Back to school 2015

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Selecting a student’s backpack

By Bob McDonnell The Surveyor

We all carried books to and from school. Today it seems every student, regardless of age owns some type of backpack or bag to hold his or her school essentials.

Back in the 1930s a simple leather strap sufficed to bind the two or three books a student needed, according to a 2013 Huffington Post article written by Lauren Lebowitz.

Lebowitz says the first school bags started to appear in the 1940s.

Now, students carry backpacks of all sizes, shapes and colors — some even the wheeled-type luggage variety.

With all the choices in bags, it is important to know a few tips on choosing a pack.

Straps — “Look for a pair of wide, padded shoulder straps to help distribute weight evenly and reduce the risk of muscle strain or injury,” said Benjamin Hoffman, M.D., a pediatrician, on the parents.com website. The website qnaguide.com suggests straps be at least two inches wide.

“Two straps distribute the weight more evenly, and the padding can alleviate any pinching or pressure on the neck and shoulders,” according to Dana Tew, a physical therapist at Harris County Hospital District in Houston, Texas.

Berthoud’s Gateway Natural Medicine and Diagnostic Center’s Dr. Brent Wisniewski agrees. He says the straps are most effective if tight, but not so tight they restrict movement. This also keeps the load from shifting, he says.

An article on the childparenting.com website suggests parents remind children always to put both straps on. This helps with weight balance and reduces shoulder pain.

Weight — No matter what strapping the pack has, consider the weight a student must carry in relationship to his or her own body weight.

Hoffman cautions that a full-loaded pack should not exceed 10 to 20 percent of the child’s weight. Ideally, this would means 10 pounds is the limit for a 50-pound child, for example.

In addition, bags with multiple compartments are advantageous. This type of bag allows for a more overall even distribution of the load. Putting heavier items on the bottom also helps.

Fabric — Bags come in a variety of materials. Texas A & M AgriLife Extension Services notes that leather bags may look cool but they weigh more than nylon or canvas ones. Students do not need the extra weight.

Wear it right — A backpack should extend from about two inches below your child’s shoulder blade to the waist area. “It should not hang down past the waist,” Tew says. Maybe a better guide is the advice from childparenting.com. Childparenting suggests the bottom of the backpack be at the small of the back. To measure this, visualize a line going around from your child’s bellybutton to his back. That line should be where the bottom of the bag hits.

Adjust the shoulder straps until the bottom of the bag meets that line.

Wisniewski says if the pack is too low, the muscles have to work more. This can lead to mid-back pain.

It’s easy to see if a backpack is problematic. Kidshealth.org. suggests three ways to check to see if the bag is right for a student. First, does the student struggle to get the backpack off and on? Next, must the student lean forward to carry the pack? And lastly, do they have back pain?

Choosing the right backpack is serious business. Not getting the proper fit and/or incorrectly wearing the pack leads to injury in many cases. More than 9,500 patients treated in hospitals and by doctors for backpack-related injuries in 2012 were school-aged children (5-18 years old) according to qnaguides.com.

Backpacks are going to be around for a while — at least until the world goes all electronic. Choose them wisely.

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Berthoud Schools in the Thompson School District

Berthoud Weekly Surveyor

BACK TO SCHOOL 2015 Back to School 2015© is published by the Berthoud Weekly Surveyor.

Editorial content is provided by Surveyor staff writers and the Thompson School District. For more information about advertising with the Surveyor, call 970-532-2252.

All additional information regarding individual schools, fees, registration and testing dates, alternative education options and other resources can be found at thompsonschools.org or call 970-613-5000.

Berthoud High School

950 Spartan Ave. • 970-613-7700 Principal Chris Garcia

970-532-2252 440 Mountain Ave., Berthoud, CO 80513

www.BerthoudSurveyor.com

Turner Middle School

950 Massachusetts Ave. • 970-613-7400 Principal Derrick Martin

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Ivy Stockwell Elementary

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175 Fifth St. • 970-613-6100 Principal Rick Bowles

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Berthoud Elementary

560 Bunyan Ave. • 970-613-7500 Principal Camilla LoJeske

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Back to School July 30, 2015

WELCOME BACK!

All elementary schools will host a “Registration Open House” on Thursday, Aug. 6 from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.

TURNER MIDDLE SCHOOL New students to the district: Monday, Aug. 10 — Students with last names A-L, 7:30-11:30 a.m. and 12:30-3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 11 — Students with last names M-Z, 7:30-11:30 a.m. and 12:30-3:30 p.m.

Bring proof of residence, immunization records, birth certificate, and report card from previous year.

Returning students: Family Access On-Line Registration should be completed online through Parent Portal Annual Family Check-In. 6th graders will report to the gym for their first day of school on Thursday, Aug. 20.

No backpacks or school supplies needed this day.

All students’ first day of school is Friday, Aug. 21.

All students will receive a copy of their class schedule on Back to School Night, Monday, Aug. 17, 6-7:30 p.m. Schedules and student fee invoices will also be available for downloading through Parent Portal in August.

Completed athletic packets and fee payments may be dropped off in the front office beginning Monday, Aug. 3. First day of volleyball (7th/8th grade) and Cross Country (all grades) is Monday, Aug. 17. Information such as bell schedule, calendar, lunch information and athletic information/packets for fall sports may be found on Turner’s website: www.thompsonschools.org/turner BERTHOUD HIGH SCHOOL: New students to the district and transfer students from other district high schools Call 613-7711 beginning Monday, Aug. 3, to schedule an appointment for registration and information. Available dates for these appointments are Thursday, Aug. 14 and Friday, Aug. 15, 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Remember to bring previous school records to your appointment.

Returning students (grades 10-12): Registration for classes was completed in February 2015. Students will report for their first day on Friday, Aug. 21. Parents and students will be able to access their schedules and invoices via Parent Portal beginning Aug. 19 by Noon.

Grade 9 registration was completed at middle schools in February 2015.

The first day of school for freshmen and new students is Thursday, Aug. 20.

Back to School Night is Tuesday, Aug. 18, 5-7 p.m

Berthoud Weekly Surveyor

Make school day mornings easier Special to the Surveyor School day mornings can be hectic, as getting kids ready for school and out the door on time is not always easy. Working parents may find school day mornings especially difficult, as their own work schedules can make mornings feel even more rushed. Fortunately, parents can employ several strategies to free up time in the morning so everyone starts their days off in a more relaxing atmosphere.

• Wake up earlier. Sleep might seem like a precious commodity, but waking up just 10 to 15 minutes earlier can remove some of the stress from weekday mornings without costing you a lot of sack time. Let kids sleep in until their normal wakeup time, using your extra 10 or 15 minutes to shower or enjoy your morning cup of coffee before the house is abuzz with activity.

• Tackle certain chores the night before. Delaying certain chores until you wake up makes for a hectic morning, so tackle as many morning chores as possible before you go to bed for the night. Prepare school lunches, lay clothes out for yourself and your children, and make sure kids have their backpacks packed and ready to go before they go to bed. Each of these things may only take a few minutes, but when left for the morning, they can add up to a substantial amount of time.

• Encourage youngsters to pick up the pace. Some people are morning people, while others dread setting their alarms for early morning hours. Kids who fall into the latter group may drag their feet in the morning, but parents should offer encouragement when kids are moving slowly in the morning. Allowing your frustration to show may only make kids less fond of mornings, so remind them as nicely as possible that everyone has a schedule to stick to if they seem to be dragging their feet.

• Keep the television off. If watching the television is ingrained in your morning routine, try going a few days without it to see if this makes it easier to get out the door on time. Kids might grow distracted by morning cartoons, and even adults may get caught up in morning news shows or other forecasts. Eliminating television from your morning routine can save time and also may help your family grow closer, as you will have more distraction-free time to speak to one another. In addition to turning off the television, resist the urge to turn on your devices or scan work emails when getting ready in the morning.

Parents know that school day mornings can be hectic. But there are several ways to make such mornings go more smoothly so everyone gets where they need to be on time.

School Calendar 2015-2016

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Exciting year expected at Berthoud El Ivy Stockwell Elementary School

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he upcoming school year will be a full and exciting year at Berthoud Elementary! We can hardly wait to see all of our returning students and meet our many new students at the annual Meet and Greet from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Wed., Aug. 19. We look forward to a year filled with the high interest areas of science, technology and social studies integrated into our learning of reading, writing and mathematics. Students will enjoy multiple scientific investigations, experiencing our local and state history, exploring the world around us in learning about current events and all the creative and physical opportunities of art, music and physical education classes.

Throughout the year, students and their families can look forward to a multitude of extra-curricular activities often sponsored by our PTA or Student Council. Fall Carnival is always a great night of family fun; filled with games, delicious treats, and a raffle for many exciting items. Science Seminars started last year and students loved the creative experiments our parents provided.

Several more science seminars will be available again this fall. During the winter staff members offer afterschool clubs such as chess, arts and crafts, creative construction, Camilla LoJeske poetry, cooking, games, code writing, etc. We will also Principal at Berthoud Elementary School have a couple of Family Movie Nights and our Annual Jog-a-Thon.

Our Student Council representatives sponsor community service projects each trimester to benefit those in need, as well as, several Spirit Days, especially during Red Ribbon week. All students participate in our Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS), Bucket Fillers and Character Counts. Please watch for more information on these programs and projects.

Finally, each fall we have our Field Day and it is an excellent time for students to develop teamwork and a sense of classroom community. We appreciate that so many of our families attend, even if they can only make it for the shared lunchtime on the front lawn. Our tentative date for Field Day is Oct. 2.

Thanks to our family and community for your support of our students and staff through another great year of learning and growing to be our best!

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elcome to another great year at Ivy Stockwell Elementary. We are excited to be celebrating our 40th Anniversary this year. At our Carnival and Car Show on Saturday, Sept. 26, we will be inviting the community and former staff/ students to join us in our celebration (look for more information soon).

At Ivy Stockwell Elementary, we are entering our fourth year of our STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) implementation. We have been pleased with the changes in student thinking over the past few years and our science scores demonstrate 14 percent growth from 2014 to 2015.

We will be continuing to use grant money, Berthoud Bash funds, District and PTO support enhance our STEM programming.

The teachers at Ivy have been busy this summer to make this the best school year ever. In Rick Bowles addition to taking many classes and teaching Principal at Ivy Stockwell summer school, we have staff writing grants, Elementary School volunteering in our Ivy Stockwell garden, working with teachers from our STEM sister schools and helping with our Unified Improvement Plan.

The Thompson School District is an amazing district and our Berthoud schools are excited to work together to continue to strive to make it even better.

We look forward to seeing our students smiling faces and with help from our amazing PTO, supportive parent community, talented staff, and incredible students, we will make this a school year to remember.

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Turner Middle School

“It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.”

— Albert Einstein

case in education, there are many ‘buzzwords’ that enter the lingo, and we often spend too much time figuring out just what they truly mean.

Project-based learning, authentic n my humble opinion, there is learning, design thinking, standardsno other profession based scoring ... these are of greater imporall merely components of tance than that of teaching. the philosophy that stuTeachers are the profesdents need to be more ensionals who help educate gaged in, and be held more and train all other profesaccountable for, their own sionals. As with any profeslearning. We achieve this sion, in order to maintain by making the learning high quality they must process more individualadapt and evolve to meet ized for each student. Their the specific needs of our own interests, desires and clientele: our students. strengths become the pathDuring my first year ways for how they learn at Tuner Middle School, I and how they exhibit what Derrick Martin spent a great deal of time they have learned.

Principal at getting to know parents, This does not mean that Turner Middle School the community, Thompson teachers must completely School District and the wholesale change what teachers/staff here at TMS. This is they do and how they do it. It will, an extraordinary group of people who however, require some change and put kids first. the ability to embrace new methods Those of you with whom I’ve of thinking and to see a different spoken have heard me discuss the type of role that the teacher plays paradigm shift that’s currently takin the classroom. But again, I have ing place in education. And by that, I seen the work of Turner’s staff. This mean how we engage kids in learning is creative, flexible and knowledgeand how we best inculcate in them able bunch. As part of our work, staff the kinds of skills and knowledge will be studying the book “Reinventthey will surely need for an evering Project-Based Learning: Your changing world. As a STEM school, Field Guide to Real-World Projects Turner Middle School will continue in the Digital Age” by Suzie Boss and to push the envelope in the areas of Jane Krauss. I urge parents and/ or science, technology, engineering and guardians to get the book and take math. We recognize the importance of a look at some of the work we’ll be the arts, and they will continue to be doing. And I will be communicating an integral part what we offer. And to parents and guardians the specifics at this level, the social and emotional as to what we are doing, and how and aspects of behavior and becoming why we’re doing it. It’s going to be a productive citizens will continue to be great year! emphasized.

If parents or community members The focus for this upcoming year ever have any questions or concerns, (and in years to follow) will be on please do not hesitate to contact me. student-driven learning. As is the My door is always open for you.

I

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Berthoud High School

the best educational experience that we can at Berthoud High School.

Initial Advanced Placement testing information appy summer, BHS Family! has been released and we performed well on several I hope that your summer has been exof the tests and followed the struggling national actly what you needed this year because averages on the newly developed tests. we are getting close to the start of the Overall, I am pleased with our perforschool year already. mance with the several changes to tests As I look back on a fantastic graduaand our new schedule adjustments. I am tion ceremony, and think of losing Ann hopeful and optimistic that when ACT Gonzales and Mike King to retirement, test composite scores are released that the end of the school year was bitterwe will see an improvement from the sweet for me. last year as we have consistently grown Our students proved to be very rethrough the use of the ACT boot camp. silient last year as they participated Remember that our goal was a 22.0 comin several more testing days due to the posite score for our 11th grade students institution of PARCC testing. Please last year. remember that we were lenient on “optThe bell schedule is unchanged, ing out” of some students and had to plan although we will be periodically using a regular school day due to the number Chris Garcia a modified schedule on the Wednesday/ of non-participants. Our focus will be on Principal at Berthoud Thursday block days for academic interfully participating in all the tests since High School vention, assemblies, class and club meetthe frequency has been reduced at the ings and guidance counseling. We will state level and we have traditionally share those details at the beginning of the school performed very well on any state-wide competitive year once we decide on a schedule as a staff. Also, test at BHS. Testing or not, we will always provide

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Did you know?

Special to the Surveyor

According to the College Board Annual Survey of Colleges, the average published tuition and fee price for full-time, in-state students at public fouryear colleges during the 2014-15 school year was

$9,139. That marks a nearly 3 percent increase from the preceding year, but it’s still a considerable bargain when compared to the tuition and fee costs full-time, out-of-state students attending four-year public colleges will have to pay. Such students paid $22,958 for the 2014-15 school year, a 3.3 percent hike from the year before.

Such figures do not include the cost of room and board, which averaged roughly $9,800 for the 2014-15 school year at public four-year colleges

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we will focus on getting students to class on-time as we are now familiar with the schedule and we want to improve student academic success. We added another campus security person to assist with that important focus area, so make it a priority to get to class on time this year!

I am looking forward to a great 2015-2016 school year.

Here’s a few important events and dates to remember: Our 2015 fall sports parent meeting will be Aug. 12 at 6 p.m. in the BHS auditorium. We have several new coaches this coming year and we are excited for you and your student-athletes to meet all of our coaches.

Our Back to School night will be Tuesday, Aug. 18 from 5 - 7 p.m. Please remember that upperclassmen don’t have to come right at 5 p.m. Take your time, you’ve earned it, and you don’t want to stand in line all night for student ID’s. Ninth and 10th graders should come between 5 and 6 p.m. and juniors and seniors should start coming after 6 p.m.

Freshmen Orientation day is Aug. 20 and all students come on the 21st. (in-state and out-of-state).

Private, non-profit, four-year colleges remained considerably more expensive than their public counterparts, costing students an average of more than $42,000 per year for tuition, fees and room and board during the 2014-15 school year.

The 3.7 percent rise in tuition and fees at such institutions also represented the highest average increase of any four-year colleges or universities.

Why the school bus is yellow

Special to the Surveyor The school buses many Americans are accustomed to seeing in their neighborhoods trace their origins to educator and author Dr. Frank Cyr, Ph.D. Dr. Cyr specialized in rural education and, in 1939, organized a conference at Teachers College, Columbia University in New York City with the intention of standardizing transportation for students on their way to and from school.

Representatives from several notable corporations, including engineers from auto manufacturers Chevrolet, Dodge and Ford and paint experts from DuPont, attended the conference.

The fruits of that conference are still paying dividends even now, as one of the more notable developments to result from the conference was the decision to paint buses yellow with black lettering to make them easier to see in the early morning and late afternoon.

That decision continues to protect the millions of school children who ride the bus to and from school today.

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How to save on school supplies this school year encourage kids to store their supplies in a predetermined area once the school year ends, as this will make next year’s inventory that much easier to examine and assess.

Spend more now to save later — While inexpensive supplies can be hard to resist, such items likely won’t withstand the test of time, forcing you to spend time and money each year buying replacement supplies; paying more now for certain items, including stronger backpacks and more highly rated calculators, may end up saving you money in the long run, even if the initial pill is somewhat tough to swallow.

Use technology to your advantage — Department stores and businesses that sell school supplies, such as pharmacies and office stores, may or may not discount too many items once back to school season hits full swing. But savvy parents can still find deals by using technology to their advantage when shopping for school supplies. Download apps like RetailMeNot to your smartphone and enable its updates so your phone essentially notifies you of any discounts the moment you walk into a given store. If you don’t receive any updates, search for discounts via the app or the Internet as you shop. Chances are strong that there are deals to be had, even if you don’t learn of the deals until you arrive at the store.

School supplies can be expensive, but parents can employ several strategies to save on school supplies now and in the future.

Special to the Surveyor Back to school season can be as expensive for parents as it is exciting for students. Once the initial letdown of the end of summer vacation wears off, many kids are excited to return to school, where they can see their friends, study their favorite subjects and participate in extracurricular activities. Parents of school-aged youngsters may share in that excitement while also knowing that back to school season can stretch their budgets. One of the ways to salvage those budgets is to save on school supplies. Fortunately, there are several ways parents can do just that.

Be patient — Shopping early can save shoppers money in many instances, but parents may benefit by exercising patience when it comes to buying school supplies for their children. Teachers often give students lists of supplies they will need for each class, and parents who wait to receive such lists can avoid spending money on items their kids won’t need. Even if you wait it out, you may be able to get a head start, as some teachers may post supply lists on school websites, while others might email lists to parents before back to school season hits full swing.

Take inventory — If you have more than one child, chances are you already have lots of school supplies around the house. Dust off kids’ backpacks and study areas from last school year to determine which supplies you need to buy and

which you already have.

Going for-

ward,

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What to wear? What to wear?

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Back-to-School fashions for teenage girls

elieve it or not, it’s that time again. Time to buy the kid some bigger shoes and a couple of t-shirts without stains, but you know that won’t be all they want. Today’s children, especially teens, are savvy about fashion and no parent wants to feel out of the loop. With that in mind, we found some teens who were willing to talk to us about clothes, style, and what they think will be hot this fall.

Surveyor Our first interview was with a pair of sisters from Columnist the Denver area. Their mom, Emily Jones, is a writer for ColoradoMom. com. These two sisters have very different styles. Grace Redard, 13, is the oldest and describes her style as “laid back” and “casual.”

“I don’t really like to dress very fancy.

Heidi My sister is more of a Kerr-Schlaefer fashionista,” she said.

Grace describes her favorite school outfit as a simple pink tank top with a long gold necklace paired with jeans. She said her style is influenced mostly by her peers, but she believes, when it comes to fashion, teens

should strive for comfort.

“I think people should dress how they want to dress and just be themselves,” she said.

Grace’s younger sister, Rosalie Redard, 12, will be at Rocky Top Middle School this fall. She loves fashion and says one of her biggest influences is Taylor Swift, but she also follows YouTubers like as Bethany Mota. Mota, a teenager from California, has a YouTube channel where she makes videos about hair, makeup, fashion, and DYI projects. She has over nine million subscribers.

Rosalie says the YouTubers like Mota are extremely influential when it comes to teenage girl fashions.

“I like to wear lots of skirts and dresses,” said Rosalie. “I like a skater skirt paired with a graphic t-shirt or maybe my Chicago Blackhawks t-shirt.”

One of her favorite outfits is a rose patterned skirt with a light blue, white polka dotted button up shirt.

She likes to pair this look with Converse, white sandals or flats.

Rosalie says her must-have fashion items for this fall are lots of different colored skirts.

“I like to have a large variation when it comes to my skirts and dresses,” she said. “Lots of girls pair their Courtesy photo skirts with crop Evie Wood models her favorite back to school fashions. tops, but I don’t really like crop tops, so that’s one thing I do differently. Not a lot of girls wear patterns on top of patterns, but I really like to do that.”

Rosalie feels the most important thing when it comes to fashion is to wear what you want.

“If you don’t like a look, you shouldn’t wear it just because it’s trendy,” she said.

Evelyn (Evie) Wood, formerly of Berthoud, will enter Ouray High School in the fall. This 14-year-old loves fashion and is considering it as a potential career.

Evie says her style is a bit of “little girl” mixed in with “rebellious teenager.” She studies fashion everywhere; on television, in magazines, on social media and the Internet. Evie doesn’t have one particular person who influences her fashions and says she doesn’t typically copy one look.

“I like the mix and match different individual pieces that I see,” she said.

This isn’t surprising because, over the years, Evie has filled sketch books with her own fashion designs.

“From what I’ve seen, denim is going to be really big this year; denim jackets, denim jeans, skirts, shorts and blouses that have a denim feel and color.

But also a lot of pattern and floral,” she said. “Blues and grays and pinks, purples and whites are popular right now. Orange is becoming popular too, along with mint green.”

Evie says a typical outfit for her would be a denim skirt paired with a floral shirt or Indian/tribal print black and white dress pants with a solid light color shirt in blue or pink. One of her favorite outfits last year was gray leggings paired with a blue Indian/tribal print top that had some lace.

“I feel that what’s really important is that you wear an outfit that makes you feel good,” said Evie. “I’ve noticed that what you wear influences your attitude.”

She explained that when she dresses in outfits that make her feel confident and pretty she’s more motivated and focused in school.

All three girls interviewed for this article said athletic wear is extremely popular right now for both boys and girls, but especially boys.

“Head to toe Nike,” said Rosalie. “That’s what the boys are wearing.”

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Add health screenings to back-to-school checklist Special to the Surveyor

Courtesy photo

Schedule visits to the doctor, dentist and an eye doctor so your child is up-to-date upon the dawn of a new school year.

As summer vacation winds down, thoughts turn from jaunts to the mountains to readying for a new school year. To-do lists include many of the typical tasks that precede going back to the classroom, including shopping for new clothes, purchasing school supplies and finishing summer reading assignments.

Another essential requirement parents must find time for is completing their children’s health screenings and immunizations so youngsters can return to school.

Health screenings may include, but may not be limited to, routine physical exams, eye exams and dental cleanings. Each school district may have its own set of health requirements that must be met in order for children to attend school. Many schools require that children are up-to-date with all immunizations before they can begin a new school year. While the issue of vaccinations has inspired debate in recent years, parents should recognize that many schools will only exempt students from receiving certain vaccinations due to religious reasons.

For a list of state vaccination requirements and possible exemptions for schools in the United States, visit www2a.cdc.gov/nip/ schoolsurv/schImmRqmt.asp.

Students who have specific learning disabilities or medical conditions that require classroom modification should obtain recent documentation from any therapists or specialists prior to beginning a new school year.

Doing so facilitates the process of setting up procedures within the school while ensuring children have what

they need to excel in the classroom.

All parents may want to ask doctors to provide copies of medical and immunization records so schools will have the most recent copies on file.

Parents should schedule eye examinations well in advance of the first day of school so they have ample time to fill new prescriptions for youngsters before school begins. This ensures kids won’t be starting off on the wrong foot because of vision problems that could already have been addressed.

Parents of adolescents or students on the verge of adolescence may want to address the subject of bodily changes before the school year begins anew. Address which changes can be expected, including the start of menstruation for girls. This will help children better understand what is happening when they witness changes in themselves and fellow classmates and give them a chance to receive accurate information rather than gossip from their peers.

Keep in mind that health screenings conducted in advance of the school year may not preclude students from school-sponsored screenings. Schools may offer their own vision and hearing screenings and may take physical measurements to ensure students are growing on schedules in line with normal development.

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Strategies to help kids focus on their schoolwork Special to the Surveyor Some youngsters experience difficulty when the time comes to focus on their schoolwork. Such difficulties may be linked to a variety of factors, and parents can be overwhelmed as they attempt to identify the root cause of their youngsters’ struggles in the classroom.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly 6.4 million American children between the ages of 4 and 17 have been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. ADHD most often occurs in children, and these children may have difficulty with concentrating, paying attention, staying organized, and remembering details. But not all children struggling to focus on their studies have ADHD. Parents who want to help their kids overcome their issues with regard to focusing can consider a host of approaches and strategies.

Speak with a qualified health care professional. Because ADHD is so common, parents should seek the opinion of a licensed health care professional to determine if their child has the disorder. According to the National Resource Center on ADHD (www.help4adhd.org), psychiatrists, pediatricians, neurologists, psychologists, and certain licensed counselors or therapists are qualified to diagnose ADHD. Determining if a child has ADHD is a great first step toward helping that youngster overcome his or her struggles in the classroom. A qualified

health care professional can help develop a strategy to improve focus, and that may include prescribing medication to improve the child’s ability to concentrate.

Speak with your child’s teacher. Students who don’t have ADHD can still have trouble focusing on their schoolwork, and parents of such

students may want to speak to their children’s teachers to solve the problem. Educators have significant experience dealing with students who have trouble focusing, and they may be able to make certain suggestions to help kids focus on their work.

Minimize distractions at home. Some kids

may do well in class but find it hard to focus once they arrive home. That’s because home often has far more distractions than the classroom.

Once the time comes for your child to do his or her homework, minimize distractions that can compromise his or her ability to focus. Turn off the television and take kids’ phones away if they have their own phones. During homework time, only allow them to use their computers for their lessons and not to connect with friends via social media.

Parents also should make sure they aren’t the distraction. Let kids do their work in peace and quiet, offering to help if need be, but steering clear of kids work areas so they are encouraged to focus and not strike up conversations with mom or dad Make lists. Some kids focus better when they know exactly what they have to do.

Encourage such youngsters to make lists of their assignments and check items off as they are completed. Checking items off can give kids a sense of accomplishment, which can motivate them to stay focused on their schoolwork going forward.

Encourage breaks. A breather every so often can help kids avoid growing tired.

Make sure kids don’t take up another task, such as playing video games or watching television, during their breaks. But keep in mind that standing up every so often to walk around or get a glass of water can help them stay sharp and energized over the long haul.

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How to help kids find extracurricular activities

Instead, use those interests as jumping off points to further engage their passions.

Availability — Parents know that school comes before extracurricular Sports may be the first thing that comes to mind when many parents think activities, but kids may not be so wise. Keep in mind kids’ existing workloads of extracurricular activities for their children, but not all kids are cut out for when helping them find the right afterschool activities. Many organizaor interested in competitive athletics. But just because a youngster may not tions are especially flexible with teenage volunteers or be the next star quarterback or capemployees, but parents still must keep a watchful eye tain of the soccer team does not mean to ensure kids do not overextend themselves. Kids who he or she can’t find an extracurricular overcommit to extracurricular activities may end up activity to be passionate about. feeling burnt out, which can have a negative impact Parents know that schoolwork on their schoolwork. Encourage kids to find activities comes first, but extracurricular acthey care about, but emphasize that these activities tivities can be important to a child’s should not become bigger priorities than schoolwork. development, serving as an avenue to Let kids know that they can get more involved during meet new people and an opportunity summer vacation, but make sure kids don’t devote too to learn the importance of teamwork. much of their time to afterschool activities during the The following are a handful of things school year. A couple of hours per week and even some parents should consider when trying additional time on the weekends should not distract to help their children find the right kids from their responsibilities at school, and that’s still extracurricular activities. ample time for kids to explore their interests.

Interests — One of the easiest Internships — Internships were once exclusive to ways to help kids find an extracurcollege students, but many organizations now offer ricular activity they can be passioninternship opportunities to high schoolers as well. Kids ate about is to discuss their interests Courtesy photo who find themselves interested in particular subjects with them. Youngsters with a love of Students passionate about a particular subject or course of animals might enjoy volunteering at a study may be eligible for internships with local businesses that at school, whether it’s graphic design or a beginner’s course on finance, may be eligible for internships with local animal shelter or hospital, while encourage them to apply that interest in practical settings. local companies. Such opportunities may even encourthose who love to write may find age kids to pursue a particular course of study once they writing for the school newspaper is a enter college. great way to apply that passion in a practical setting. Even kids with a pasExtracurricular activities can help youngsters develop into well-rounded sion for video games might be interested in learning about computer graphadults. Parents can help kids find the right activities while still encouraging ics and what it takes to design games. When trying to find extracurricular them to keep schoolwork atop their priority lists. activities for your children, resist the urge to write off any of their interests.

Special to the Surveyor

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Berthoud Weekly Surveyor

Don’t reverse progress toward healthier school lunches

A

s parents, you trust your family pediatrician to help you make informed choices about your children’s health — not politicians or special interests. That’s why, when developing the first meaningful improvements to school meals in 30 Guest years, we turned Columnist to the people who care the most for kids; including pediatricians and other respected health, nutrition and school meal professionals.

For the past three years, kids have eaten Tom healthier breakVilsack fasts, lunches and snacks at school thanks to the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (Act), which improved the nutrition of foods and beverages served in cafeterias and sold in vending machines. Our kids are getting healthier as a result. Parents

and pediatricians approve. But some politicians in Congress aren’t so happy.

Now that the Act is up for reauthorization in Congress, opponents are straining to roll back the progress we’ve made, putting your children’s potential in the hands of Washington interests. This, despite the fact that our national obesity crisis costs the country $190.2 billion per year to treat.

Healthier school meals were developed based on recommendations by doctors and nutrition, health and school meal experts. They gave us the same nutrition advice they give you — kids should eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and other healthy foods.

Opponents would have you believe that kids won’t eat the healthier meals, that they’re too burdensome on schools.

But we’ve talked to the dedicated school meal professionals working in school cafeterias, as well as the students, and the negative rhetoric does not match reality.

We have listened carefully to schools and provided time, flexibility, guidance, and hundreds of millions of dollars in financial support. As a result, more than 95 percent of schools across the country, and 100 percent of schools in Utah, are

Strategies to motivate students to be more physically active Special to the Surveyor Today’s students arguably have more on their plates than any generation that came before them. But even with their hectic schedules, kids still have free time, which many are not always using in the healthiest ways possible.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly one-third high school students play video games or computer games for three or more hours on an average school day. Sedentary lifestyles can increase kids’ risk for being overweight or obese, and many parents struggle in their efforts to encourage their school-aged children to get off the couch and embrace physical activities. The following are a handful of strategies concerned parents can employ as they attempt to motivate youngsters to be more physically active. · Choose the right activity. Physical activity and organized sports are not one and the same. Kids can still be physically active even if they are not athletic or if they are simply not interested in sports. Find an activity kids can embrace, such as hiking, swimming or even riding bikes, and they will be more likely to get off the couch. · Limit screen time. Kids spend lots of time in front of computer and television screens, which can be detrimental to their overall health. Parents can place restrictions on the amount of time kids are allowed to spend surfing the Internet, playing video games and watching television, encouraging youngsters to spend time enjoying the great outdoors or playing with friends rather than spending it staring at a screen . · Join in the fun. Parents can set positive examples by being physically active and even exercising with their children. Rather than retiring to the couch after dinner, take nightly walks or bike rides as a family. This is a great way to get kids off the couch, but also a great way to spend more time together as a family. · Involve kids in your own pursuits. Parents who are weekend warrior athletes can involve their kids in their own activities. Take kids along on weekend jogs, kayaking trips and so on, all the while explaining the important role physical activity plays in living a healthy lifestyle.

now meeting the standards.

These changes haven’t happened overnight. USDA continues to work with schools that are having difficulty preparing healthier meals. We recently launched a program called Team Up for School Nutrition Success that allows the schools still working to meet the standards to pair up and learn best practices from schools that are already successfully serving healthier meals. The program has provided training for 3,029 individuals and has been enthusiastically received by schools and school officials.

The fact is that most schools support the new standards. A recent survey by the Kids’ Safe and Healthful Foods Project found that 70 percent of food service staff and school administrators at the elementary and middle school levels say that students like the healthier meals.

Another study from the University of California, Berkeley’s School of Public Health found that nearly 90 percent of surveyed students liked at least some school meal options.

A recent Harvard study shows the standards are working, as evidenced by the fact that kids are now eating 16 percent more vegetables and 23 percent more fruit at lunch — astounding progress in three years. Some predicted kids would reject healthy food and throw more food away, but the same study showed the critics were wrong.

There was bipartisan support for healthier school meals when the Act passed in 2010, and that remains true today. A recent survey found that 87 percent of Democrats, 70 percent of independents and more than half of registered voters with kids in public schools surveyed were supportive of the new meals.

This is not only a question of what’s right or wrong for kids. It’s also a national security and an economic issue. One in five young adults is too overweight to serve in the military. The cost of treating obesity-related illnesses drags down our economy and increases budget deficits.

If we don’t continue to invest in our children, this generation will be the first to live shorter lives than their parents.

Today, we are on a path to change that thanks to parents, teachers, doctors and kids who cared enough to fight for higher standards. Because of the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act, our children have more energy to learn and grow, greater opportunity to thrive, and better overall health. Our children have healthier school meals than we ever did.

What Congress is really considering now is whether kids deserve a healthier future. The answer is yes, and the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act ensures it.

Tom Vilsack is U.S. Secretary of Agriculture

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