Family Matters September 2012 by NCNG Family Programs

Family Matters Family Matters

NCNG Family Programs ~ September 2012—Volume 4, Issue 9

Bonded By Change, Stronger Together Exciting New Strong Bonds Mega Event

Across the State

Texting

Holiday Spending & Preparing Become a Fan Ahead “North Carolina

Effects on Writing and Communication

National Guard Family Programs”

Kids on Guard “Boots On Boots Off” Explore the Wonders of Science

Volunteer Webinars Learn the fundamentals of Joint Services Support (JSS) this September

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Volume 4, Issue 9

FAMILY MATTERS SEPTEMBER 2012

Contents 4 6 9 10 12 14 15 16 17 18 19

Director’s Column Holiday=$ IDKWTM? LOL KOG—Cape Fear Museum Trip Upcoming Events FRG—JSS Webinars Child and Youth Programs American Airlines Military Movie Night Family Assistance Centers Strong Bonds—Event Registration 2012 Patriot Day—Jacksonville, NC

Kimberly Lewczyk and spouse, Sgt. First Class David Lewczyk, 882nd ENG CO, exchange goodbyes on June 22, 2012, before he departed Charlotte Douglas International Airport for a deployment to Kuwait, while the couple’s middle son nestled in-between them. Mrs. Kimberly Lewczyk says, “Saying goodbye is never an easy task…. We have three sons, but our middle child, Isaiah (age 6), was having a difficult time at the airport. I think this picture shows of the great sacrifice that even our children have to endure.” Photo taken by Lori Mathis, Sister of Kimberly Lewczyk

Diane Coffill State Family Program Director diane.coffill2@us.army.mil (919) 664-6324 SFC Ramona Scott Family Program NCOIC ramona.scott1@us.army.mil (919) 664-6000 Ext. 47005 SGT Tammy Fowler Family Programs Assistant tammy.l.fowler@us.army.mil (919) 664-6000 Ext 46876 Wendi Bell FAC Administrative Assistant wendi.bell@us.army.mil (919) 664-6078 Lana Greer State FAC Coordinator lana.m.greer@us.army.mil (828) 652-4595 Ext. 2 Terry Henderson Airman & Family Readiness Program Mgr. terry.henderson@ang.af.mil (704) 398-4949 Alice Dean Lead Child & Youth Coordinator alice.dean@us.army.mil (919) 520-9548 or 800-621-4136 Angelena Dockery Marketing & Communications Manager sallie.a.dockery@us.army.mil (919) 485-9570 Kathryn Jarvis Marketing & Communications Manager Kathryn.jarvis@us.army.mil (919) 485-9571 Judy Richardson Senior FRSA judy.richardson@us.army.mil (910) 347-4352 Ext. 5

Need to talk? Call us today. Voluntary, Confidential, Free, and Professionally Staffed 1-800-621-4136 Option 1

@ncngFamily

NC National Guard Family Programs State Office 1636 Gold Star Drive Raleigh, NC 27607-6410 (919) 664-6053 www.nc.ngb.army.mil

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“Boots On, Boots Off”

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September 15, 2012 Join Us at East Flat Rock Armory 2025 Spartanburg Highway East Flat Rock, NC 28721 A day full of interactive fun taking you through the Deployment Cycle …From Orders to Homecoming!

Kids on Guard, 9 a.m.—3 p.m. Designed for ages: 5 years old and up Kids will learn what happens after orders are received: How to tell your family, the SRP process, Training, Deployment Team Building and the Road Home! Kiddies on Guard, 9 a.m.—Noon Designed for ages: Birth to 4 years old A special program for child and parent to participate in with lots of fun hands on activities. A parent or guardian must accompany the child. Pre-Registration is required for those interested in attending. The day of the event sign-in will begin at 8:30am for all age groups. First Formation will begin promptly at 9:00am. Lunch will be provided for all (Kiddies & Kids). We ask that you inform us when you RSVP if there are any special dietary needs of attendees you are registering. To obtain a registration form and/or further information, please contact: Carina Surface 1-800-621-4136 Ext. 8820 line 23 919-693-3651 Ext. 23 carina.s.surface@us.army.mil

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DIRECTOR’S COLUMN

Hi Everyone, This September we have some exciting new opportunities coming our way. Our staff, community partners and organizations have planned a wide range of children activities and family fun. There are Patriotic celebrations, a museum trip, and an art contest to look forward to. But, just when we think there is time to take a deep breath, our staff is gearing up for the upcoming holidays. In this issue, Family Programs has included an article highlighting the three major Holidays on the horizon, and how to prepare for the expenses that come with them. Just as we prepare for natural disasters, we too can prepare financially and hopefully avoid “flooding” our holidays with any undue stress. As I interact more and more with youth, I have come to notice the profound effect of technology today. We are fortunate to have some many ways to help us keep in touch. But with the emergence of technology, there is a new language creeping into our teen’s communication strategies that can have an effect on grades and college admissions. Our Teen Council provides opportunities for Military Youth to practice various ways of communicating and invites teens that are not a member to join the Face-To-Face meetings coming soon. We hope you enjoy this issue and invite you to share, with Family Readiness Groups and Family Assistance Specialists, your ideas and talents for upcoming Holiday events and support. We would like your input on what you would like to see in the Family Matters for the upcoming months (i.e. do you have great Family recipe, craft for the kids, Holiday tradition, etc.) that you would like to share? We look forward to you sharing your creative ideas. Take Care! Sincerely, Diane Coffill, State Family Program Director diane.coffill2@us.army.mil About Family Matters Family Matters was created to provide Servicemembers and Families the most up-todate information and services available. If you would like to contribute to future issues, or if you have suggestions and comments, please contact the NCNG Family Programs Marketing and Communications Department personnel, Angelena Dockery or Kathryn Jarvis, at ncngfamilyprograms@gmail.com. E-Versions of Family Matters can be downloaded at the NCNG Family Programs webpage at www.nc.ngb.army.mil. References in this newsletter to any specific commercial products, processes, or services, or the use of any trade, firm, or corporation name does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by NCNG Family Programs.

MILITARY FAMILY LIFE CONSULTANTS NON MEDICAL COUNSELING SERVICES



Anger Management



Communication



Relationship Issues



Productivity at Work



Conflict Resolution



Parenting



Decision Making Skills

John Alleman Adult & Family Specialist 919.745.9635 Betty Steelman Child & Family Specialist 919.665.9178

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Photo: Holiday Savings by Kathryn Jarvis

Holidays=$ By Mrs. Kathryn Jarvis, NCNG Family Programs Co-author David Porter, Accredited Financial Counselor

Fall is coming and some Families’ finances are still recovering from the hefty cost of getting kids ready for school. Soon Families will gear up for more spending as Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas approach. These extra expenses can be stressful during an already taxing season. Now is the time to have a plan for what money will be going out compared to what amount is coming in. There are several ways to effectively budget. One way is to break down a budget for each holiday and set a limit for how to spend on what. For example: HALLOWEEN    

$30.00 limit on Costume Create your own costume $15.00 limit on Candy $15.00 limit on decorations

THANKSGIVING  



$75 limit on Thanksgiving Meal Divide the cost of the meal among the guest attending $100 expected travel costs

CHRISTMAS Gifts  Bake goods/make gifts  gift certificates for your time/talent  $50 Spouse/Significant other  $100 each Child  $15.00 Other people up to four (Continue on Next Page) SEPTEMBER 2012

FAMILY MATTERS 6

(Holidays=$ continued from pg 6) Always plan for some fun. Example: a

Restrictive Budget vs. Goals

Making a list and having a plan is only family puts aside (budgets) money for one part of being prepared. There are a “Pizza/Movie night” each week. The kids get to pick the movie from “Red few common budgeting pitfalls that can destroy even the most organized Box” and they cook a good store plan, but the most common is unrealis- bought pizza and watch the movie. Pick something your family likes to do and tic expectations. This includes, “starving your budget” from fun things put it in the budget. If you can’t afford that later lead to binge spending, unit each week do it every other week. It dervaluing expected costs and expens- is very important that you budget for es and viewing a budget as restrictive something fun each month. instead of looking at a budget as a plan for success.

Starving Your Budget Author of the article “Is Budgeting Keeping You Poor,” Rob Berger, wrote that bad budgets are like bad diets. “The result is almost always to gain more weight when the diet crashes. The same thing can happen with our finances. We put together an unrealistic budget that deprives us of any fun, and eventually we crash through the budget with a big spending splurge.”

“...We put together an unrealistic budget that deprives us of any fun, and eventually we crash through the budget with a big spending splurge.”

The way one perceives or thinks about a budget is just as important as the budget. Four university professors conducted an eleven year research project on “Goal Setting and Task Performance”. They concluded 90% of laboratory and field studies with specific and challenging goals had a higher rate of performance than those with easy or no goals. Furthermore, researchers Undervalue Costs/Expenses found that goals positively affected performance, persistence and motivaPrices are changing on a regular basis. tion. One way to avoid this pitfall is to Not staying in-tune with the costs of develop a budget with financial goals at things can lead to budget disasters the forefront. and can discourage people from keeping with the plan. In addition to the A good way to look at a budget is to costs of things, another mistake in un- think of it as a way of telling your mondervaluing or not keeping in mind ey what to do. This may help you stop emergency expenses that may come. wondering where it went when their An example with the upcoming holiare more days left in the month and days and travel would be forgetting to you have no money for gas or food. add in any car repairs or misshapes North Carolina National Guard Family that can happen during your road trip. Programs has a full-time, Accredited There are a lot of ways to “in-tune” Financial Counselor, David Porter, who with the cost of things. One thing to do can assist Military Families in devising is track your spending. There are sever- the best financial plan for free. Take al programs, a lot of free ones, that can advantage now before the fall spending make this simple. But the best thing is extravaganza starts. Additionally, Milito make sure emergencies don’t ruin tary One Source offers tools and advice your plan, plan for the emergencies. for making a plan. Everyone who wants to get ahead in Start this Fall prepared, don’t let it be money, plans for emergencies. Get a the season where you “fall” behind. savings set up just for these events, keep at least $500 to $1,000 dollars in Contact David Porter: 919-334-8313/ ncng.pfc@gmail.com it.

Photo from Microsoft ClipArt SEPTEMBER 2012

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Focus On NC OMK is excited to announce the 6th Annual NC Operation: Military Kids Visual Arts Contest. The contest is open to all North Carolina youth. Age categories are 5-8, 910, 11-12, 13-15, and 16-19. Designed to introduce youth to the Visual Arts as a part of the 4-H Expressive Arts Curriculum, youth will utilize their skills and their artistry to capture their views of America and patriotism.

This year’s themes are: 

America the Beautiful



Proud to be an American



Patriotic Pride

Celebrating Our Heroes...Past and Present



Contest rules and guidelines can be found at www.nc4h.org/military/ index/html or http:// www.operationmilitarykids.org/ public/statePOCHome.aspx? state=North%20Carolina Eligibility of Photos: All photographs must have been taken by youth between the dates of May 1, 2012 and the time of entry. Photos may be submitted only one time and in only one division and class to the North Carolina Operation: Military Kids photography contest. Eligibility of Artwork: All artwork must have been created by youth between the dates of May 1, 2012 and the time of entry. Artwork may be submitted only one time and in only one division and class to the North Carolina Operation: Military Kids Visual Arts contest.

Entry Deadline: ENTRIES must arrive in the North Carolina 4-H Youth Development Office, postmarked no later than Tuesday, April 30, 2013. What a great opportunity for all North Carolina youth to showcase their talent and skills in the Expressive Arts area. Please share with families, colleagues, volunteers and community partners of this wonderful opportunity.

Please feel free to contact J. Scott Enroughty, Project Coordinator – OMK-NC 919.515.8500/ scott_enroug hty@ncsu.edu if there are any questions.

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IDKWTM? LOL By Mrs. Kathryn Jarvis, NCNG Family Programs

Since the boom of instant messages, Twitter, Facebook and text messages a new language has surfaced and taken over the way teens communicate. Now teens use abbreviations, emotional symbols and incorrect grammar structures in a great amount of their communication. James Billington, Librarian of Congress, noted that electronic communication might be “the slow destruction of the basic unit of human thought, the sentence” In a 2008 PEW Internet and American Life Project

Participants of the focus group said, “…You have to

Research Report, “Writing Technology and Teens,” a

have good writing skills to get a job.” And “…Writing

group of researchers concluded that 85% of teens in

well is a part of doing well.” They attributed writing

the age range of 12-17 communicate through e-

improvements to teachers who gave harder assign-

messages and 60% don’t consider it a form of writing;

ments and used tougher grading standards.

but it is. It is considered an informal style of writing which is concerning educators as it unintentionally creeps into school assignments and even college admission essays. In the US News and World Report article, “How Slang Affects Students in the Classroom” by Ryan Lytle, a foreign language teacher with more than 10 years of teaching, Terry Wood says there is a decline in writing skills. "They do not capitalize words or use punctuation anymore… even in E -mails to teachers or [on] writing assignments, any

Ways to Help At Home The National Council of Teachers of English developed a comprehensive guide for parents to help their teen expand their writing skills at home. In the guide, teachers suggest having a notebook where teens can keep their writing assignments for them to read and analyze later on, and to encourage teens to write out plans, problems or activities. Writing is about organizing thought and ideas; it is a part of thinking.

word longer than one syllable is now abbreviated to

There are free resources and programs for military

one."

teens. Tutor.com is a free service for Military Families

Electronic Communication is not all doom and gloom. Teens write more often than before using ecommunication and most youth realize the importance of the skill. The Pew research report found that 98% of teens “agree that writing is a least somewhat important for their future success.”

that can help parents and teens with writing. You or your teen can upload a writing project or assignment anytime and qualified professionals help by editing and providing suggestions to help improve the writing project. (continued on page 11)

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xplore

The

Wonders of

History and Science At

Cape Fear Museum October 13, 2012 from 9:30 a.m.—3:30 p.m. for Ages 5 and Up Join the Kids on Guard team for a day at North Carolina’s oldest history museum! Located in historic Wilmington, youth will learn about history, science, and cultures of Lower Cape Fear through fun and exciting educational exhibits and programs. Cape Fear Museum 814 Market Street Wilmington, NC 28401 Pre-Registration is required for those interested in attending. During the event lunch will be provided. We ask that you inform us when you RSVP if there are any special dietary needs of attendees you are registering. To obtain a registration form and/or further information please RSVP to: Carina Surface 919-693-3651 Ext. 23 carina.s.surface@us.army.mil Pre-registered attendees will need to be at the Museum between 9 a.m—9:30 a.m. for Check-in and Drop-off.

(continued from page 9)

Additionally, North Carolina National Guard Family Programs has launched the Teen Council. The council is where military youth participate and support in a myriad of events and activities. As part of this program, military teens are often asked to share their experiences or thoughts, which is later used for publications such as Family Matters. Alice Dean, North Carolina National Guard Lead Child and Youth Coordinator, says teens develop more than writing skills in the Council. They learn how to be an advocate for Military Youth in their communities, how to be a leader and a follower, and gain lasting friendships with other Military Youth across the state. This fall the Child and Youth Programs Teen Council invites military youth ages 13-18 to join us for one of our regional face-to-face Meetings. For more information or to attend contact Alice Dean. To find the Teachers Association Helping your Teens Write Better Guide, visit www.ncte.org/library/NCTEFiles/Resources/Positions/tips -parents.pdf. The full PEW “Writing, Technologies and Teen” Report can be found online at www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2008/WritingTechnology-and-Teens/09-The-Way-Teens-See-Their-Writing.aspx? view=all.

Help Wanted? NORTH CAROLINA EMPLOYMENT READINESS PROGRAM Contact

David Ponder, Employment Specialist (919) 485-9567— david.ponder@us.army.mil

What’s That Mean??? AFAIK: As Far As I Know AWHFY: Are We Having Fun Yet? B4N: Bye For Now BBFN: Bye Bye For Now BBL: Be Back Later BF: Boy Friend BFN: Bye For Now BIF: Before I Forget BION: Believe It or Not BRB: Be Right Back BTW: By The Way BWL: Bursting With Laughter BYKT: But You Knew That CU: See You CUL: See you Later CWYL: Chat With You Later DIKU? Do I Know You? DK: Don’t Know FOAF: Friend Of A Friend F2F: Face to Face FTF: Face To Face G: Grin or Giggle G2G: Got to Go GA: Go Ahead GAL: Get A Life GF: Girl Friend GFN: Gone For Now GIWIST: Gee, I Wish I’d Said That GOW: I Get On With It GTG: Got To Go GTSY: Great To See You H&K: Hugs and Kisses HAK: Hugs And Kisses IC: I See IDK: I Don't Know IDKWTM: I Don’t Know What That Means? IIWM: If It Were Me IJWTK: I Just Want To Know IKWUM: I Know What You Mean IRL: In Real Life ISS: I’m So Sure ISSYGTI: I’m So Sure You Get The Idea! ISWYM: I See What You Mean IYSWIM: If You See What I Mean JAS: Just A Second JTLYK: Just To Let You Know K: Okay KIT: Keep In Touch KWIM: Know What I Mean? KYFC: Keep Your Fingers Crossed Some abbreviations are not appropriate for this publication and were not included.

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UPCOMING EVENTS | COMMUNITY-BASED

www.bridesacrossamerica.com

NOVEMBER 18, 2012

SRPs

Brides Across America Wedding Gown Giveaway Event is coming to Gastonia, NC on Nov. 18 at: 512 South New Hope Rd, Gastonia, NC, 704-866-0198. Visit www.poffiegirls.com for info.

Sept. 7 (8am-5pm)—630th CSSB Lenoir Armory 1535 Beecher Anderson Rd., Lenoir Sept. 7-9 (8am-5pm)—230th BSB; HHC; A CO; B CO; C CO Goldsboro Armory, 700 US Hwy 117 South Bypass, Goldsboro Sept. 15 (7am-6pm)—HHB/113th-30th HBCT Charlotte Armory, 4240 West Blvd., Charlotte Sept. 20-23 (Time TBA)—5-113th FA BN High Point Armory, 3515 Armory Rd., High Point Sept. 21-23 (Time TBA)—HHC/1-120th CAB; A/1-120th CAB; E/230th Wilmington Armory, 2412 Infantry Rd., Wilmington Sept. 22-23 (Time TBA) —B/1-120th CAB; C/1-120th CAB; D/1-120th CAB Lumberton Armory, 4502 Fayetteville Rd., Lumberton SEPTEMBER 2012

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FAMILY READINESS GROUPS | SEPTEMBER WEBINARS

JSS Webinar Sessions Updating Your User Profile in JSS Wednesday September 5, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM, Eastern You will learn how to request a change to your state affiliation and role permissions, update your personal information, reset your JSS password and view your JSS History. A link to the webinar will be emailed to you. Register at www.jointservicessupport.org/Events/EventDetails.aspx? Mode=ReadOnly&Id=CEA1504B-76CA-4D5E-B5A5-63A0B376CA26 Get R.E.A.D.Y. with JSS – Staff Wednesday September 5, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM, Eastern This webinar provides an overview and shows program staff how JSS tools empower them to effectively support the National Guard community. This includes how to set-up program-specific events, create targeted email campaigns, and locate community resources. Register at www.jointservicessupport.org/Events/EventDetails.aspx? Mode=ReadOnly&Id=4B61DB7B-38E6-4872-B5D7-B4AB4432C99F ESS Reporting Tool in JSS Wednesday September 5, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM, Eastern This webinar shows Employer Support Specialists how to submit the state Monthly Program Report. This includes how to access and view the MPR sub-reports, create sub-reports and enter sub-report data. Register at www.jointservicessupport.org/ Events/EventDetails.aspx?Mode=ReadOnly&Id=9A098826-3BE0-43B3-BA09E37682313732 Using the Volunteer Activity Tracker in JSS – Volunteers Thursday September 20, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM, Eastern This webinar shows volunteers how to enter volunteer activity hours, as well as search and edit volunteer activity hours in the JSS Volunteer Activity Tracker Tool. Register at www.jointservicessupport.org/Events/EventDetails.aspx? Mode=ReadOnly&Id=343DBD6E-C64E-447A-9BF0-3896F65CE51F Using the Volunteer Activity Tracker in JSS – Staff Tuesday September 25, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM, Eastern This session orients Staff to relevant reports detailing volunteer activities. This includes how to view and export the User Report and enter and view volunteer activity hours. Register at www.jointservicessupport.org/Events/EventDetails.aspx? Mode=ReadOnly&Id=47A1081F-F39A-42BD-A22B-3D5A13A0823E Creating and Uploading Event Evaluations in JSS Tuesday September 25, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM, Eastern This webinar will show event coordinators how to produce standard Yellow Ribbon and custom breakout class evaluations; how to scan and upload evaluation forms; and tips for ensuring the successful processing of uploaded evaluation forms. Register at www.jointservicessupport.org/Events/EventDetails.aspx? Mode=ReadOnly&Id=96989DAD-B581-47C0-833A-976E5E7F7DF7 Learn more about the upcoming webinars by visiting www.jointservicesupport.org Or contact Judy Richardson, Senior FRSA, at judy.r.richardson@us.army.mil or (800) 621-4136 Ext. 11346

Judy Richardson, Senior FRSA 142 Broadhurst Road Jacksonville, NC 28540-3545 judy.r.richardson@us.army.mil

(910) 347-4352 Ext. 5 (800) 621-4136 Ext. 11346

FAMILY READINESS SUPPORT ASSISTANTS CHARLOTTE Nikkie Newsome nikkie.newsome@us.army.mil (704) 344-2352 Ext. 14548

CLINTON Sarah Strickland sarah.r.strickland@us.army.mil (910) 592-2100 Ext. 14735

GREENSBORO Gloria Fields gloria.d.fields@us.army.mil (336) 691-7700 Ext. 15620

GOLDSBORO Greg Smith gregory.paul.smith@us.army.mil (919) 731-2021 Ext. 15423

MORRISVILLE Pamela Hughes Pamela.hughes5@us.army.mil (919) 804-5300 Ext. 16313

OXFORD Norman Dean norman.dean@us.army.mil (919) 693-3651 Ext. 27

RALEIGH George Lane

george.lane1@us.army.mil (919) 664-6054

Yellow Ribbon, 30-60 Day, 1452nd Trans Co., Sept. 28 - 4pm-7pm Sept. 29-9am-4pm Koury Convention Center, 31121 High Point Rd., Greensboro

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CHILD & YOUTH PROGRAM

NCNG CHILD & YOUTH PROGRAM STAFF Alice Dean Lead Child & Youth Coordinator (800) 621-4136 (919) 520-9548 alice.dean@us.army.mil

Kristi Wagner Youth Coordinator 1-800-621-4136 ext. 8851 kristi.wagner@us.army.mil

Carina Surface Child & Youth Specialist 919-693-3651 ext. 23 carina.s.surface@us.army.mil

Upcoming Family Days 1451st TRANS CO Family Day, Sept. 9, 8am -3pm Boone Armory, 274 Hunting Hills Lane, Boone 105th EN BN Family Day, Sept. 9 9am-2pm, Buncombe County Sports Park, 58 Apex Dr., Candler

Back-to-School Study Tips It’s that time of year…students are heading back to school. To ensure your child starts the school year off right, StudyPoints, Inc. has provided some helpful tips. Tip #1: Develop organizational systems that will work for YOU. Not all organizational systems will work for all students. You should choose the ones that will work best with your schedule and needs. Remember, though, that learning to be organized takes time and practice. If a system doesn’t work the first time you try it, try again. You may just need more time to become accustomed to it. Tip #2: Avoid distractions in your study space. If your study space includes a TV and radio, it’s probably not the best place for you to study. Your study space should be used for studying and working only. Choose a space that doesn’t have a lot of tempting distractions available. Tip #3: Keep all of your books, notebooks, binders, and folders for each class together on a shelf. Then when you need to grab your math materials for school, they are all in one place, making it less likely for you to forget something. You can even label the shelves to make it that much easier to find the right materials. Tip #4: Reward yourself! Positive reinforcement is an amazing thing. When you have completed tasks, reward yourself in small ways. This can be anything from allowing yourself to take a 10 minute break to treating yourself to a movie. This will help to avoid procrastinating! September Did you know? September is full of holiday’s remembering and honoring people starting with Labor Day in celebration of working Men and Women, the 9th is Grandparent’s Day (spending time with them is the best present), 21 September is POW/MIA Day, a day of remembrance and hope for a safe and speedy return and this year is the 11th anniversary of the 911 terrorist attacks please spend a moment in silence honoring those who gave their lives that day and since protecting our freedoms. Other days to celebrate in September are Good Neighbor Day and National Play Dough Day. Why not plan a special block party or lend a hand to an elderly neighbor or veteran in need. Have fun with your kids celebrating the creation of play Dough with the recipe below. Simple Play Dough 1/4 cup salt 1 cup flour 1/4 cup water

Free Stuff and More at www.militaryonesource.com

Have your child mix the flour and salt in a bowl then add water. Knead and squeeze the dough to make a clay consistency. You may need to add more water. Note: This dough doesn't last as long as the cooked recipes. Kids love to Color: Divide into sections, then knead in food coloring (liquid or paste). Use unsweetened Kool-Aid for color and scent. Add glitter for sparkly play dough.

Tip #5: Schedule time to complete your assignments based on anticipated time on task and urgency. Once you know all the assignments that you need to complete, determine their deadlines and estimate how long it will take to finish each one. You can then prioritize your tasks and set a clear schedule for completing them! Tip #6: Use an academic planner to keep track of your assignments, deadlines, and appointments. By having all this information in one place, you’ll know exactly where to look to find out what you need to do. You can even use your planner to prioritize tasks and set a study schedule. See the example provided. Tip #7: Use shorter, less grammatically correct sentences. Since you are the only one who will be reviewing your notes, you need not write grammatically correct sentences. You should do your best to shorten your sentences as much as possible. This will enable you to take notes at a faster speed and will reduce the risk of falling behind. Just make sure that you don’t abbreviate the sentences to the point where you are unable to understand what you wrote when you go back to review your notes. Tip #8: Divide your study time into blocks separated by quick breaks. It is most effective to study in 30-45 minute blocks of time, allowing yourself quick 3-5 minute breaks in between study blocks. This approach gives you time to focus while also allowing time to relax and reenergize. Be careful though— you need to make sure that your quick breaks don’t turn into longer procrastination breaks! Tip #9: Create and save study guides and aids. Students often wait until the night before big tests to start creating study aids. Instead, you should create study aids for each quiz and test that you have in a class. Once the quizzes and tests are completed, you should save your study aids. Then when it comes time to study for your big tests and quizzes, you will already have your study aids created, which saves you valuable time that you can dedicate to studying. Tip #10: Learn how to effectively communicate with your teachers. Your teachers are there to provide guidance and support. You’ll find that most of your teachers are more than happy to provide additional instruction and extra help. This also shows that you care about your academic performance. Your teachers want to see that you are interested in the class material and that you are driven to succeed. There’s a good chance that a portion of your grades will be based on your class participation. By effectively communicating with your teachers, you can help maintain and increase your class grades. *All tips are brought to you by StudyPoints, Inc.

FREE

24-Hour, Online, Real-Time, Tutoring www.tutor.com/military SEPTEMBER 2012

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FAMILY ASSISTANCE CENTERS | CONTACT US

Kinston Unit Family Contact Center (UFCC) 2875 Dobbs Farm Rd., 28504 Fax: N/A Gabrielle H. Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Flanagan, FAC Specialist gabrielle.h.oflanagan.ctr@us.army.mil (252) 208-0255 Ext. 15817 Lenoir State Family Assistance Center (SFAC) 1535 Beecher Anderson Road, 28645 Frances Johnson, FAC Specialist frances.johnson3@us.army.mil (828) 757-4365 Ext. 4 line 1

Asheville Military Family Resource Center (MFRC) 7 Yorkshire St. Suite 101, 28803 Fax: (828) 274-8572 Debra Collington, FAC Network Coordinator, debra.a.collington.ctr@us.army.mil, (828) 274-7209 Charlotte Unit Family Contact Center (UFCC) 4240 West Blvd., 28208 Nikki Newsome FAC Specialist, Fax: N/A, (704) 344-2352 Ext. 14547 Fayetteville Unit Family Contact Center (UFCC) 3555 Owen Drive, 28306 Amy Wallace, FAC Specialist, amy.wallace3@us.army.mil, (910) 321-1001 Ext. 14920 Greensboro State Family Assistance Center (SFAC) 110 Franklin Blvd., 27401, Fax: N/A Katy Jones, FAC Network Coordinator katy.m.jones@us.army.mil (336) 691-7700 Ext. 15649 Sandy Harrison, FAC Specialist sandy.harrison1@us.army.mil, (336) 691-7700 Ext. 15651 Greenville State Family Assistance Center (SFAC) 1401 N. Memorial Dr., 27834, Fax: N/A Dawn White, FAC Network Coordinator dawn.white@us.army.mil, (800) 621-4136 Ext. 11150 Kannapolis Military Family Resource Center (MFRC) 6001 Gateway Center Dr., Suite 109, 28081 Fax: (704) 788-0550 Lynn White, FAC Specialist, lynn.white2@us.army.mil, (704) 788-4554

Morganton Unit Family Contact Center (UFCC) 411 Kirksey Drive, 28655, Fax: (828) 437-2068 Nancy Davis, FAC Network Coordinator nancy.davis3@us.army.mil, (828) 437-0746 Ext. 2 Raleigh Unit Contact Center (UCCC) 4105 Reedy Creek Rd., 27607 Fax: N/A Earlene Capps, FAC Specialist earlene.capps@us.army.mil, (919) 485-9554 Lisa Faison, FAC Specialist lisa.faison@us.army.mil, (919) 437.3190 Mark Woolbright, FAC Network Coordinator mark.woolbright@us.army.mil, (919) 437-3191 Smithfield Unit Family Contact Center (UFCC) 406 Hospital Road, 27577 Fax: N/A Abby Millsap, FAC Specialist abby.e.millsap@us.army.mil (919) 934-2013 Ext.16 Southern Pines Unit Family Contact Center (UFCC) 500 Morganton Road, PO Box 1317, 28387, Fax: N/A David Butler, FAC Specialist david.earl.butler@us.army.mil (910) 692-8747 Ext. 6 Wilmington Unit Family Contact Center (UFCC) 2412 Infantry Rd., 28405, Fax: N/A Jim Marley, FAC Specialist james.marley@us.army.mil (910-) 251-7100 Ext. 16918 Judy Howard, FAC Network Coordinator judy.m.howard@us.army.mil 910-251-7100 Ext. 16925

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SEPTEMBER 2012

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