2013-back-to-school-supplement

August 15, 2013

What Every Parent Needs to Know About Changes in the Classroom (StatePoint) Across the country, parents are beginning to notice that today’s classroom looks quite different from what they experienced in their own school days. From personalized learning technologies to new educational standards, teachers and administrators are using a variety of tools to ensure students are better prepared to succeed than ever before.

In this era of innovation in education, this school year will be particularly exciting in part because states will be piloting assessments aligned to the Common Core State Standards, the new set of K-12 educational standards designed to improve students’ readiness for college and future careers.

So just what do these changes mean for your kids?

Shift to New Standards Schools nationwide are finding new ways to provide individually tailored lesson plans while addressing the Common Core State Standards, often relying on a new generation of educational technologies that help students learn and succeed at their own pace.

McGraw-Hill Education’s Reading Wonders is one such tool. Available in both all-digital and print/digital formats, it is the first K-6 core reading program designed specifically for the new standards.

“Even before the advent of the Common Core, we knew that preparing students for the demands of college and careers required setting a solid foundation in skills such as reading comprehension and writing,” said Christine Willig, senior vice president of products at McGraw-Hill School Education. “When the new standards reiterated the importance of these skills, we saw an opportunity to build an entirely new program that would address the Common Core requirements, by leveraging contemporary cognitive science about how we learn, using cutting-edge digital tools.”

Personalized Learning Education research has shown that instruction becomes more effective when tailored to students’ unique learning styles and needs. Personalized learning tends to lead to deeper learning – which will help students meet many of the new Common Core standards. As classrooms continue getting bigger however, delivering that sort of individual attention to students becomes more difficult.

With this in mind, Reading Wonders was built using entirely new educational technology, offering interconnected platforms personalized for students and teachers and accessible across any device.

Other digital learning tools use additional techniques to help students succeed. McGrawHill Education’s LearnSmart and FLEX Literacy, for example, each use “adaptive” technology to continually assess students’ knowledge, skill and confidence levels and to create a unique study path designed to help each student in the topics and concepts they need most – a level of personalization previously only available from a personal tutor.

LearnSmart delivers this adaptive learning experience for a variety of high school subject areas, while FLEX Literacy incorporates it into a comprehensive, Common Core-specific reading and language arts intervention system for students in Grades 3–8.

More information about new digital programs, including those designed specifically for the Common Core State Standards, can be found at www.mheducation. com.

In this ever-evolving educational landscape, keeping up with the changes can seem daunting – but it needn’t be.

Parents can rest assured that teachers are increasingly equipped with new technologies that ensure their students are getting the personalized attention they need to improve their chances for long-term success. n

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Washington Informer 2013 Back To School Supplement

Building a Relationship with Your Child's Teacher Matters (StatePoint) Children are mom and dad’s top priority, and parents want to give them every advantage in the world to succeed.

But with all the time kids spend at school, parents cannot do it alone.

That’s why it’s important for the most influential adults in a child’s life to team up on a common goal.

Parents should cultivate relationships with their child’s teacher early, so they can work together toward the child’s success.

There are several ways for parents to build a relationship with their kid’s teacher.

Introduce Yourself Don’t wait until there is a problem before meeting the teacher.

Introduce yourself as soon as possible -- ideally before the stresses of the school year are in full swing. It doesn’t have to be a long conversation -- just one to let the teacher know who you are and that you are interested in your child’s education.

Show Appreciation All kids and their parents have a teacher they admire and want to thank. Taking a few minutes to share these sentiments is impor-

tant and can be easy. For example, Cheerios has a new “Send Cheer to Teachers” program that makes it simple to thank favorite teachers. Parents can show gratitude, support and appreciation by sim-

Don’t wait until there is a problem before meeting the teacher.

Introduce yourself as soon as possible.

The mission of Richard Wright Public Charter School for Journalism and Media Arts is to transform students in grades 8-12 into well-versed media contributors by providing a student-centered environment that connects them to the classics and modern languages and a curriculum focused on strong writing skills and vocabulary.

ply cutting a special postcard for teachers from specially-marked boxes of Cheerios cereal, writing a personal message, and sharing a short note of thanks.

A few kind words can go a long way.

Spend Time In today’s economy, many schools are stretched thin for resources. School systems are increasing class sizes and slashing budgets. Parents who have time can offer to help out. Whether it is chaperoning school trips, preparing items for a fundraiser or just donating old books to the classroom, this kindness will go a long way toward solidifying the parent-teacher relationship.

Help with Supplies Teachers spend on average $398 of their own money on supplies and resources, and 92 percent of teachers use their own money to provide supplies for their students, according to the National School Supply and

Equipment Association.

Through a General Mills program called Box Tops for Education, parents can earn cash for their kid’s school by clipping Box Tops coupons from participating products. In addition, from August to October, you can enter the unique code from inside specially-marked Cheer-card Cheerios boxes online to earn one bonus eBoxTops credit for your school.

And through a new Cheerios Send Cheer to Teachers sweepstakes, parents can enter for a chance to win a $20,000 prize package or one of four $5,000 prize packages made up of bonus Box Tops and supplies for their child’s school. Complete details and rules, can be found at www. btfe.com/sendcheer.

Getting to know their teachers is the best way to take an interest in children’s education. Even when they aren’t around, parents can make a difference in the classroom. n

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Generation after generation, parents have taught their children to prepare for college now, which often means in elementary school or even earlier.

These days, financial experts like John McDonough are giving parents the same advice.

“Can you afford the college that will give them the best chance in life? Will paying for their education force you to have to work well into your golden years? These are the questions I ask parents every day,” says McDonough, CEO of Studemont Group College Funding Solutions, CollegeFundingFreedom. com, which offers advice for parents worrying about how to pay for their child’s education.

“Many parents really don’t know how to begin answering these questions; they are afraid of walking into a financial situation that they won’t be able to safely

4 Reasons to Plan Your Child’s College Funding Wisely

strategy. Given the unpredictability of Congress, which allowed the U.S, credit rating to drop while standing on political principles, one can’t reliably predict whether interest rates will rise or fall.

Avoiding the Debt Trap Can Be Just as Important as Getting a Degree, Says Financial Specialist

Your children cannot refinance their loans: While a borrower who has racked up tens of thousands of dollars in gambling debt can refinance their payments, student loans remain at fixed rates. In collecting money on student loans, there is no statute of limitation, and today it’s very common – the norm, actually – for student loan holders to take nearly two decades to pay off their debt. With the annual average cost of public universities exceeding $22,000 per year, and the same often surpassing $50,000 at private universities, it’s no surprise. n

walk out of. But the alternative – saddling their children with debt well into their 30s and 40s – is not an appealing alternative.”

McDonough reviews four disturbing trends in the challenge of paying for a college education: The net worth of today’s 30-somethings: Adults in their 30s have 21 percent less net worth than 30-somethings 30 years ago, according to a new Urban Institute report.

Why? Much of it has to do with high-interest student loans and credit card debt. The return on investment of a college education is excellent – college grads earn 84 percent more than those with only a high school diploma, according to Georgetown’s Center on Education and the Workforce.

But paying off that investment without outside help is exceedingly burdensome for a graduate.

Student loan debt is even greater than credit card debt: That’s right – topping all Americans who have made poor decisions with their credit cards are ambitious high school graduates, whose collective student load debt shoots past $1 trillion!

More important than this being a crucial social epidemic, it’s potentially a very real problem for your child. President Obama scored some political points in identify-

ing with most Americans when he said his student load debt was paid off only after he was elected to the U.S. Senate. Two-thirds of students leave college with some form of debt, according to the Federal Reserve Bank.

Be community-minded You can also look for scholarship sources within your own community. Check with your local newspaper, community organizations, and your parents'/ guardians' employer. Religious organizations, banks or other civic organizations often offer scholarship programs. Enroll in Wells Fargo's CollegeSTEPS program to get additional information on finding scholarships as well as college planning tips and for tools and other resources. Once you enroll, you'll automatically be entered into the Wells Fargo CollegeSTEPS-sweepstakes for

high school and college students.

Students will have the chance to win one of 40 $1,000 cash prizes that may be used for college or other expenses.

Fluctuating interest rates: Recent controversy over federal Stafford loans interest rates adds to the insecurity of borrowing as a college financing

How to find free money for college: The scholarship hunt (BPT) - While college can be one of the best experiences of your life, it can also be one of the most expensive. The average cost per year for a four-year degree at a state-sponsored school currently runs $22,261 for in-state students and $35,321 for out-of-state students, according to a 2012 College Board report. With a few tips and strategies, you can ease your financial burden by applying for scholarships.

The fact is, the more money you can get in scholarships, the less you'll need to borrow. Scholarships are awarded by universities, nonprofit organizations, corporations and private individuals.

There are many different kinds of scholarships - some are needsbased while others focus on what a student's interests are - so start searching early and be persistent.

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Do your research Fortunately, there are plenty of helpful ways to find scholarships.

Look online by conducting a simple keyword search or by using free scholarship search services such as Fastweb, CollegeBoard or Edvisors.

Visit your high school counselor or college resource center If you are still in high school, counselors can give you directions for what types of scholarships you should apply for. If you know where you're going to college, be sure to talk with the financial aid office and see if they can assist you with your search. The admissions office may be able to help you determine if there are any school-specific scholarships.

Washington Informer 2013 Back To School Supplement

Beware of scholarship scams Scholarships are "free money," so you should never have to pay money to get them. Watch out for scholarship scams or companies that require a credit card number just to perform a search. Save the money and do it yourself.

Once you identify the scholarships and grants you want to

apply for, take careful note of the due dates, then complete and submit the applications accordingly. Give yourself plenty of time to devote to the scholarship hunt and application process.

It may seem like a lot of work when you don't have a lot of time to spare, but in the end, it's worth it to secure college money that doesn't need to be repaid.

To learn more about paying for college, visit-www.wellsfargo. com/student/calculators/ and for more about financial aid, visit www.wellsfargo.com/student/ five-steps-financial-aid. n

Friendship Public Charter School: Where the Journey to College Begins

By Dr. Jeffrey Grant

Friendship’s safe and caring Blow Pierce Campus provides students from preschool through the eighth grade with academic rigor in reading and language arts, history and social science, math, science and fine arts. Our program prepares students for high school and the challenge of a college education.

Blow Pierce is one of six tuition-free public charter schools run by Friendship, an African-American led college preparatory school that educates nearly 4,000 students in Washington D.C. The longer a student stays with Friendship, the better he or she does academically. And studies show that it is never too early to begin that journey.

Children who attend pre-

lar D.C. Public Schools high schools. In Virginia the rate is 81 percent and in Maryland it is 82 percent.

Collegiate Academy graduates nearly 250 students each year and 100 percent of its graduating class is accepted to college. Friendship also works extremely hard to overcome the financial barriers to college. In total our students have earned nearly $40 million in college scholarships—with some 614 students earning D.C. Achievers Scholarships which pay up to $55,000 toward the cost of college, as well as Posse and Gates scholarships that pay a full ride.

Friendship also is investing $22 million to build a brand new high school facility on Martin Luther King Avenue in Congress Heights, which will

school do better in kindergarten than those who stay at home, according to a new national report. Kindergartners who attended preschool did better on math and reading assessments than their peers who remained at home or stayed with relatives. Enrolling your child in our preschool program helps determine the trajectory of success they will have later on.

At Friendship we aim to provide the academic and other supports routinely available to students at selective, magnet and suburban public and private schools.

Many Blow Pierce students go on to enroll at Friendship Collegiate Academy, our college prep high school which, like Blow Pierce, is located in D.C.’s Ward Seven. This tuition-free public charter high school has an on-time graduation rate of 91 percent, compared to 56 percent for regu-

specialize in environmental sciences and STEM—science, technology, engineering and math—subjects. We are determined that our students will graduate college prepared for the careers of tomorrow.

As the principal at Blow Pierce it is my philosophy that as educators we should “learn the children, then teach.” I, as the lead administrator, must also “learn the parents and staff, then lead.”

By enrolling your children in Friendship Blow Pierce your families are fully supported as we raise the academic achievement and social awareness of our students. Our preschool Early Childhood Programs are the gateway to an exceptional education that engages and nurtures the whole child.

Come visit us at our campus at 725 19th Street, Northeast, or contact me at 202.572.1070 or jgrant@friendshipschools. org to learn more about enroll-

ing your child today. It’s never too early to prepare for college.

“The mission of Friendship Public Charter School is to

provide a world-class education that motivates students to achieve high academic standards, enjoy learning and de-

velop as ethical, literate, wellrounded and self-sufficient citizens who contribute actively to their communities.” n

Washington Informer 2013 Back To School Supplement

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Great On-the-Go Snack Ideas for Kids (StatePoint) Snack time can make or break an otherwise healthy diet. So keeping tabs on what your kids are munching on between meals is important.

The bottom line, say experts, is to aim to nurture their bodies with pure, wholesome foods as close to nature as possible.

“Getting your kids hooked on fresh fruits and vegetables early will set them up for a lifetime of great eating habits,” says Mitzi Dulan, “America’s Nutrition Expert,” and team nutritionist for the Kansas City Royals baseball team.

Dulan is offering these tips for parents to help kids get their snack on, healthfully: Plan ahead: Set up a grocery shopping routine that allows you to have fresh foods on hand for the entire week. On school nights, reserve 10 minutes with the kids to pack the next day’s snacks together.

Avoid high-calorie drinks: Wash snacks down with water or organic low-fat milk. Avoid giving your kids high-calorie and sugar-filled drinks such as sodas, juices and energy drinks.

Make it colorful: Skip highly processed snacks such as candy bars, chips, fruit snacks and store-bought cookies.

Instead, complement fresh fruits and vegetables with peanut butter, hummus or low-fat dressings.

Luckily, good-for-you snacking can be just as easy to prepare and pack as junk food. For example, Grimmway Farms Carrot Dippers come in convenient easy-open five packs of baby carrots and all-natural, low-fat ranch dressing.

Packed with 15 vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals, they are less than 50 calories per serving.

Get Them Involved: Take your kids grocery shopping with you and ask them to

pick out their favorite fruits, vegetables and healthy snacks. Direct them towards options like whole wheat crackers, edamame (soybeans), trail mix with nuts and dried fruit, air-popped popcorn, Greek yogurt and unsweetened applesauce.

Involving your kids with preparing and packing a daily lunch will encourage them to make their own decisions and they will be more likely to eat what they’ve packed instead of throwing it away.

Add a treat: Some treats are calorie free!

Put in a little note to let them know how much you love them, to make Mondays or Wednesdays -- or whatever day your child dreads -- a bit more special.

Snack time is crucial for keeping growing kids properly fueled

Tips for Talking With Your Kids about Bullying (StatePoint) Think bullying is just harmless teasing? An estimated 160,000 children miss school every day due to fear of attack or intimidation by other students, according to the National Education Association. And Yale health researchers have found a connection between suicide -- the fourth leading cause of death in children ages 10 to 14 -- and bullying and being bullied.

Experts say that kids themselves have the power to put a stop to bullying. Unfortunately, both victims and bystanders don’t always know the best way to handle bullying situations as they occur.

“Most kids feel terrible when they see friends or classmates get

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bullied. They want to help, but they don’t what to do,” says Alice Cahn, Cartoon Network Vice President of Social Responsibility.

“Having strategies for these situations can help prepare children to intervene when the time comes.”

With this in mind, Cartoon Network launched the awardwinning Stop Bullying: Speak Up in 2010 to educate kids on what to do when they see friends getting bullied. In partnership with official advisors, including staff from the US Departments of Education and Health and Human Services; and partners including CNN, The Anti-Defamation League, the Pacer Foundation, and nationally recognized

Washington Informer 2013 Back To School Supplement

for their busy days. Avoiding the sugar and fat overload at these in-between mini meals will help keep kids happier, healthier and wiser. n

academic experts, the bullying prevention campaign aims to put a stop to this common and serious problem.

The pro-social campaign is offering these tips for parents and kids to help stop bullying in their schools: Tell an adult: When someone gets bullied, tell a parent, teacher or trusted adult.

Talking about it isn’t tattling or snitching. It’s helping someone out.

No child should feel like his or her school is not a safe place to learn.

Be friendly: Bullying can make a victim feel alienated and lonely. Saying a few kind words to the person who has been bullied makes a huge difference.

Volunteer: Your school’s bullying prevention program needs parents and students to help encourage everyone to speak up against bullying.

Say it loud: Ask your school to fly or display

the official Stop Bullying: Speak Up flag, which indicates that the school is a place where bullying actions will not be tolerated.

Learn more: Free online resources can help you learn how to deal with bullies.

Visit www.StopBullyingSpeakUp. com to access public service announcements, two 30-minute documentaries and tips sheets for parents and teachers that offer a step-by-step guide for safe and effective ways to be an active bullying bystander. The site also provides links to the Anti-Defamation League, Boys and Girls Club of America and other partners providing expert advice about bullying. All materials are available in English and Spanish.

“Don’t stop there,” says Cahn.

“These resources are meant to spark a conversation.”

No child should feel like his or her school is not a safe place to learn. Parents, teachers and students can work together to make a difference. n

By Shannon Hines, Senior Director, Health Education, Health Promotion, and Women's Health

Use these quick back to school tips to help get your kids off to a great start this school year.

Munch on a healthy school lunch!

If your child eats school lunch, be sure to discuss the menu together ahead of time. Your suggestions can make it easier for your child to make healthier choices. Guide children to choose:

Lean proteins like grilled/baked chicken or turkey.

Limit high-fat foods like hot dogs, bologna, and fried chicken.

Encourage your children to play for 60 minutes a day

All children and teens should get one hour or more of physical activity every day. Regular physical activity is important to maintain a healthy weight and prevent chronic health problems, such as diabetes. While most school-age children are quite active, physical activity sharply declines during adolescence. Children who are raised in families with active lifestyles are more likely to stay active as adults.

There are many things that kids can do to be active.

Low-fat cheese, yogurt, and other dairy products.

Choose 1% or lower milk.

Whole grain bread, crackers, and cereals, and brown rice when possible.

Decide which fruits and veggies to choose – not if your child should choose them.

Many children are at school for before and/or after care. Making sure they have healthy snacks with them is a must. Send along: Raw veggies, like carrots or celery, with dip or peanut butter String cheese Fresh fruit

GivE your kids somEthinG to chEw on.

Estimated Calories Burned by a 125-lb Teen Activity (30 mins) Bicycling Bowling Volleyball Skateboarding Softball Dancing Swimming Soccer Tennis Basketball Football Hockey Martial Arts Gymnastics Hiking Wrestling Ice Skating Wii Sports Boxing

Calories burned 210 90 90 150 150 180 180 210 210 240 240 240 300 120 180 180 210 120

Keeping Your Child’s Back Healthy result

k pain as a Children may have lower bac carrying. Make are y the of the heavy backpacks sure your child’s backpack: of his or her • Weighs less than 10-20% body weight. ulder straps • Has two wide padded sho BOTH which are always worn over ist strap shoulders and are tight (a wa is helpful).

• Is not overloaded. closest to • Has the heaviest books the center of his or her back. help keep your To learn more about how to org/children. kp. kids healthy and safe, visit

Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. 2101 East Jefferson St., Rockville, MD 20852

kp.org

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Life Skills Every College Student Needs to Learn (StatePoint) One of the big challenges college students face is adjusting to a rigorous academic lifestyle. But an even bigger trial than cramming for exams is learning to survive on one’s own.

From knowing how to whip up dinner to doing one’s laundry, learning basic life skills marks the transformation of kid-at-home to young adult-in-the-world. The experts at Sun Products, the makers of Wisk PowerBlasts, offer these tips to college students: Food and Nutrition The notorious “freshman 15” is no myth. Young adults who suddenly have free reign over their diets are not always inclined to make healthful deci-

sions. From late night study sessions turned pizza parties, to allyou-can-eat buffets common to campus meal plans, avoid letting these nutritional pitfalls get the better of you.

You can improve your nutrition by prepping your own food sometimes. Even if you only have a microwave in your dorm, try whipping up oatmeal for breakfast and tacos topped with tomatoes and heated beans for dinner.

If you’re blessed with a full kitchen, you can be much more versatile. Pick easy recipes and follow them closely until you understand the principles of simple cooking. Once you’re comfortable with the basics, get creative

with seasonings and ingredients.

Laundry In an average wash load, the ratio of body oils and sweat to visible stain is 20-to-1. All that running across campus to avoid tardiness won’t help. College is messy and your laundry will reflect that. Don’t make enemies with your roommate by putting off this necessary task until your next trip home.

If you’ve never done your own laundry, don’t stress. It may seem like an exact science, but new products are making it easier to get clothes cleaner with less guesswork. For example, Wisk Deep Clean PowerBlasts from Sun Products are a good choice for laundry newbies, as they come in an convenient, easy-to-use single dose form.

One dose, which you add to the drum of the machine before piling the laundry on top, contains the right amount of super-concentrated detergent with MicroCleaners that attack trapped body

oil and sweat that some other detergents can leave behind.

When in doubt about the care of your clothes, simply read the labels.

More easy laundry tips can be found at www.Wisk.com.

Good Credit Bad credit can follow you for the rest of your days, whereas good credit can help you secure loans with good rates. And good credit is even more important these days, as some employers run credit checks on candidates before making hiring decisions.

Don’t let college be a time to rack up credit card debt you can’t pay off. Before opening an account, thoroughly read the terms of service to understand how the card works and avoid incurring unnecessary fees.

Establish a bill payment reminder on your cellphone so you’re never late. Now’s a good time to create a budget that ensures you can pay your bill in full each month.

Remember that in college the skills you learn outside the classroom can be just as important as the knowledge acquired inside it.n

Helping Your Kids Be Successful in College and Beyond (StatePoint) With so much emphasis placed on getting into college, the importance of succeeding once there is often lost. Less than half of U.S. students who enter a four-year college receive

degrees within six years.

Even students coming from a long line of university graduates need a clear understanding of what’s required to meet the challenges of higher education. For

students from low-income families or who may be the first in their families to attend college, succeeding can be even more daunting.

The list of obstacles that cause students to drop out is endless: loss of scholarships, the passing of a family member, lack of academic preparation, an absence of support and more. But most obstacles can be overcome with support, say experts.

“College students can’t always do it alone. Financial aid advocacy, academic and career counseling or advice about campus life can make all the difference,” says Ruth Genn, executive director at Bottom Line NY, a non-profit that’s supported in-part by Capital One Bank and has guided thousands of students through the application process and throughout their college careers.

As degrees become increasingly important in today’s economy, Genn says helping students in key areas can set them up for a successful life. Bottom Line urges students to keep in mind the acronym DEAL, which signifies getting a Degree, building Employability skills, planning for financial Aid, and developing Life skills.

Degree Graduating on time is a juggling act. Students should ensure they’re earning needed credits

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Washington Informer 2013 Back To School Supplement

each semester and meeting their school’s required grade point average. They should also meet with their advisor for support and to stay abreast of requirement changes.

Employability To be prepared to enter the workforce after graduation, students should begin narrowing down potential career paths as early as freshman year. Internships and other hands-on experiences are educational, help establish relationships with working professionals and strengthen resumes.

“Students can make themselves viable job candidates by demonstrating that they’ve had meaningful, career-related experiences throughout college,” says Genn.

Aid “The high cost of college is a leading reason many students don’t earn their degrees,” says Carolyn Berkowitz, managing vice president, Community Affairs at Capital One Financial Corporation, which supports Bottom Line NY. First-year college students who apply for federal student aid are 72 percent more likely to persist through college than those who are eligible for aid but don’t apply. Experts recommend that all students fill out the FAFSA, the

Free Application for Federal Student Aid. A helpful guide to completing the FAFSA is available at www.CapitalOne.com/ InvestingForGood.

In addition, work-study programs and understanding how one’s loans and payment plans work are useful toward making good financial decisions and reducing debt.

“Financial literacy becomes a critical skill during college, when students are away from home, making decisions with potential long-term impacts on their financial futures,” says Berkowitz.

Life Life is full of setbacks. Students should be their own advocates and know when to seek help from on-campus resources.

Making time for extra-curricular activities and having a group of positive, supportive peers is important. Parents can ease the transition with regular communication and support.

To learn more about how Bottom Line is helping students earn degrees and close the achievement gap, visit www.BottomLine. org. For more information on preparing for college, visit www.

StudentAid.ed.gov.

Remember, getting accepted to college is just the first step on a long, but enriching journey. n

Can your child's after-school program lead to a STEM career?

(BPT) - Learning doesn't only happen in a classroom. Each year, millions of American children participate in after-school and summer camp programs that mix education with a healthy dose of fun. And while there's always room for more programs that help kids love learning, the plethora of what's already available can be overwhelming for parents trying to choose the right programs for their children.

"Multiple studies show that children who take part in quality after-school programs have better attendance, grades and behavior, and do better on tests compared to their peers who went home alone to an empty house," says Dan O'Donnell, vice president of the Bricks 4 Kidz summer camp and afterschool program. "Parents can help their children get a jumpstart on life, and learn to love learning, by enrolling them in high-quality after-school programs."

It's important for parents to assess after-school or summer camp programs with a critical eye, and consider how successfully a program combines learning with fun and basic care.

While many programs are effective at keeping kids safely occupied after school ends but before parents are done with work, not all emphasize educational material. Programs that stimulate a child's interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) subjects can be particularly valuable - possibly even inspiring an interest in a highdemand STEM career.

"We must prepare all students ... to be proficient in STEM subjects," the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) writes in a 2010 report to President Obama.

"And we must inspire all students to learn STEM and, in the process, motivate many of them to pursue STEM careers."

An after-school program with a STEM emphasis can fulfill both the need to educate children and

inspire a lifelong love of STEM subjects, experts agree. Parents seeking a STEM program for their children should look for one that: • Offers creative and engaging activities that are as fun and motivational as they are educational.

• Encourages curiosity and creativity, which are building blocks of independent thinking.

• Draws on the real-life expertise of people working in STEM fields. For example, engineers and architects designed Bricks 4 Kidz modules.

• Uses familiar, loved learning tools, like LEGO (R) bricks, to provide hands-on, interactive STEM lessons.

"It's also important for a program's lessons to be ageappropriate," O'Donnell notes.

"Children need STEM lessons at every age, which is why we offer programs for children ages 3 through 13. We use themedbased project kits to motivate children by reinforcing STEM principles, and at the same time boost self-esteem, improve fine motor-skills, and teach organization and how to follow directions. And we do it in such a way that kids have so much fun they don't think of what they're doing as work."

To find a Bricks 4 Kidz program in your area, visit the interactive map at www.bricks4kidz. com/locations. You can learn more about the programs and search for a location by state or ZIP code.

"STEM education is most successful when students develop personal connections with the ideas and excitement of STEM fields," according to the President's Council report.

"This can occur not only in the classroom, but also through individualized and group experiences outside the classroom ...." n

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Washington Informer 2013 Back To School Supplement

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Back to School Check-Ups: What to Ask the Pediatrician

Exercise: Make sure your kids are getting plenty of exercise.

Turn off the television and make time for sports teams, gymnastics classes and bike rides. Aim for at least an hour a day.

Backpacks: Choose a backpack with wide, padded shoulder straps and a padded back or a rolling backpack. Backpacks should never weigh more than 10 to 20 percent of your child’s body weight.

(StatePoint) Between buying new school supplies and meeting your children’s teachers, back to school season is a busy time. But parents should not forget to prep for the school year by considering health and wellness.

Experts say the first step is to schedule a visit to the doctor.

“The start of a new school year is an excellent reminder to take kids to the pediatrician for their annual checkup,” says Dr. Thomas K. McInerny, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

To prepare for a healthy, safe and happy school year, the AAP is offering these tips for parents:

Getting there: Make sure your child has the necessary gear for getting to school. Whether your child is biking or walking, teach him or her about traffic safety. For bikers, ensure helmets fit properly. Those who take the bus should be instructed to stay seated and listen to the bus driver. If the bus is equipped with seat belts, children should wear them.

Sleep: Children and adolescents need plenty of sleep to be alert.

A regular bedtime can help your child get on a healthy sleep schedule.

Doctor’s visit: Make the most of your visit to the pediatrician by making a list of issues to discuss.

Immunizations: Whether you’re the parent of a young child, a teen or a young adult heading to college, ask your pediatrician what immunizations your child is due to receive. Vaccines save lives and keep kids and adults healthy.

Bullies: A bully can pose a true threat to a child’s physical and mental well-being. Your pediatrician is well equipped to answer questions about mental health, too. Teach kids how to respond confidently to bullies and encourage them to tell an adult when there’s a problem. Remember, bullying can occur online too. So keep tabs of your children’s social media use.

Nutrition: Talk with your child's pediatrician and school about healthful food choices. You can ask the school to stock the cafeteria and vending machines with nutritious food, such as fresh fruit, lowfat dairy products, water and 100 percent fruit juice. If you don’t like the options the school offers, pack lunch and snacks at home.

Limit soda consumption. Each 12-ounce soft drink contains approximately 10 teaspoons of sugar and 150 calories. Drinking just one can of soda a day increases a child's risk of obesity by 60 percent.

College health: For kids heading to college, ask your pediatrician about coordinating health care with the school.

More back to school health tips can be found at www.HealthyChildren.org.

With a focus on safety and health, you can help make this school year successful for your kids. n

Breakfast is Essential No Matter Your Age (StatePoint) Everyone knows it's important to make sure children have breakfast before school, but college students and busy parents also need a dose of morning nutrition.

Breakfast, which refers to “breaking the fast,” is the first meal of the day, usually consumed when the body has gone about eight to 10 hours without food. Eating breakfast is often associated with a higher nutrient intake and being a smart way to start the day.

When it comes to college students and parents, far too many admit to being a breakfast skipper. Thirty-one million adults skip breakfast, according to a recent National Eating Trends survey.

And millennials, aged 18-34, are the largest population of breakfast skippers.

Today, with schedules busier than ever, it’s easy to simply focus on getting the day started.

“Whether you’re in college or chasing after school-age kids, it’s easy to forgo breakfast to stay onschedule,” says Betsy Frost, Manager at General Mills.

“The tradeoff hits mid-morning with what people are calling the “hangries” -- the feeling of being ‘hungry’ and ‘angry’ or irritable,” she adds.

With this in mind, Frost and her colleagues at General Mills recently unveiled BFAST, a new breakfast shake containing the nutrition of a bowl of cereal and milk. It has eight grams of protein, eight grams of whole grain (48 grams recommended daily) and three grams of fiber, and comes in chocolate, vanilla and berry flavors. More information is available at www.bfastshake.com.

Indeed, more on-the-go parents and college students are opting for easy options they can consume on their way to work or class, or while getting ready to race out the door, say food industry experts.

“A drinkable breakfast shake that doesn’t need refrigeration fits into life no matter what you’ve got on your plate for the day. It’s perfect for busy breakfast skippers,” says Frost, who is reaching out to young breakfast skippers via Twitter and Instagram.

Washington Informer

H~10 2013 Back To School Supplement

We’ve all heard from our mothers that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and now there is research to support the benefits of breakfast: Breakfast consumers have healthier body weights: People who consumed breakfast daily had 20 percent lower risk of developing obesity and 19 percent lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to a breakfast frequency and metabolism study conducted in 2013 by the University of Minnesota School of Public Health.

Breakfast can make you healthier: People aged 20-39 who regularly had breakfast, including ready-to-eat cereal, had lower cholesterol levels and were less likely to have high blood pressure, compared with breakfast skippers, according to a study published in 2012 by The Nutrition Society.

It’s important to get all members of your family to have breakfast, no matter if they are grade schoolers about to board the school bus, college kids racing to their first class, or busy moms and dads trying to juggle it all. n

March Of Dimes Reminds Parents To Immunize Students For The New School Year Women and Pregnant Moms Need Annual Flu Shot Themselves Influenza, pertussis (whooping cough) and measles are just a few of the infectious diseases still plaguing babies and adults in parts of the United States today. Fortunately, these are preventable by vaccines, says the March of Dimes as it celebrates its 75th anniversary this year and its ongoing work to help all babies get a healthy start in life. More than 4 million babies were born last year in the United States and the March of Dimes has helped each and every one of them through research, education, vaccines and breakthroughs.

“Immunizations are as important today as they were in the 1950s when the March of Dimes delivered the first vaccines against polio,” said Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, president of the March of Dimes.

“Back-to-school season is a perfect time to make sure that immunization records are up to date, and the health of children is protected.”

The March of Dimes, along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and 8 other agencies, urges all pregnant women to get their annual flu shot in the fall. The normal biological changes of pregnancy put pregnant women at increased risk of the harmful effects of flu infection. Recent research suggests that the flu vaccine may also lower a woman’s risk of having a stillbirth or miscarriage.

Celebrating 75 Years of Life-Saving Vaccines The March of Dimes was founded in 1938 by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to combat polio, an epidemic disease that paralyzed or killed up to 52,000 Americans, mostly children, every year. The March of Dimes fulfilled President Roosevelt’s dream of a nation free of this fearful disease by funding the development of the first safe and effective polio vaccines by Dr. Jonas Salk (1955) and Dr. Albert Sabin (1962).

Following the successful development of the polio vaccines, the March of Dimes supported many other important immunization

campaigns. For example, in 19691970, Dr. Virginia Apgar worked with the March of Dimes to lead a national immunization program against rubella (German measles), which can cause a range of serious birth defects if contracted during pregnancy. The campaign was so successful that there has not been a case of congenital rubella syndrome in America in more than 30 years.

Today, the March of Dimes and Sanofi-Pasteur are partners in the “Sounds of Pertussis” campaign urging parents, grandparents, other relatives and caregivers to get a booster shot for pertussis, a highly contagious and potentially fatal disease in babies, so they won’t unknowingly infect the newborns in their lives. The pertussis vaccine is reported to have saved more than a half a million lives in 2002 alone.

As always, the March of Dimes encourages parents to ensure that their children get all their vaccinations on schedule. More information is available from the March of Dimes web site: http://www.marchofdimes.com/baby/wellbabycare_vaccinations.html.

The March of Dimes continues to fund vaccine research and to work with international coalitions seeking to improve immunization rates and eradicate preventable diseases so they will never again threaten babies and children.

About the March of Dimes The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health.

With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

This year, the March of Dimes celebrates its 75th anniversary and its ongoing work to help all babies get a healthy start in life. More than 4 million babies were born in the United States last year, and the March of Dimes has helped each and every one through research, education, vaccines and breakthroughs. n

Washington Informer 2013 Back To School Supplement

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