Siouxland Life - September 2017

Creating nutritious meals for students

What’s banned in Sioux City schools?

Presidents get ready for school, too

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BACK TO SCHOOL USD QUARTERBACK RELISHES LIFE IN AND OUT OF THE CLASSROOM

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SIOUXLAND LIFE

CONTENTS September

2017

Back to school brings nerves, laughs, fears and joys. But there’s an anticipation level that reaches from those kindergarten starters to a university football star who’s getting yet another master’s degree. In this month’s magazine, we look at all aspects of the rite of fall – and what you might need to know. We’ve got the latest styles and the latest distractions. Fidget spinners? They’re here, too.

4 A HOME FOR THE

WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD Kids like to gather at this home in Lawton, Iowa. It’s easy to see why. There’s plenty of room and lots of places to play.

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GOOD ADVICE Kids and counselors offer up ways to cope with a new school year. Cyber-bullying?

It’s real.

ON THE COVER University of South Dakota quarterback Chris Streveler is anxious to start his senior season for the Coyotes. Photo by Tim Gallagher FEATURES 4 HOME room for boys 12 BACK TO SCHOOL tasty lunches 15 BACK TO SCHOOL new president 18 BACK TO SCHOOL quarterbacking 22 BACK TO SCHOOL good advice 26 BACK TO SCHOOL twice as nice 30 BACK TO SCHOOL what’s banned

32 34 38 41 44 47

BACK TO SCHOOL hip looks BACK TO SCHOOL food packs BACK TO SCHOOL new lab BACK TO SCHOOL parents’ tools HEALTH medical answers PARTING SHOT

PUBLISHER Cynthia Donocan EDITOR Bruce Miller EDITORIAL Dolly A. Butz, Tim Gallagher, Earl Horlyk, Lindsey Nelson PHOTOGRAPHY Tim Hynds, Jim Lee, Justin Wan DESIGN April Burford ADVERTISING SALES Nancy Todd ADVERTISING DESIGN Kayla Fleming ©2017 The Sioux City Journal. Siouxland Life is published monthly by The Sioux City Journal.

For advertising information, please call (712) 224-6281. For editorial information, please call (712) 293-4218.

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A NEW LAB Teachers at Siouxland Christian build (literally) equipment for their new school. Find out how.

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HOME making

4

room for boys

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SIOUXLAND LIFE

LAWTON NEIGHBORHOOD

SUITS YOUNG

FAMILY

j

Text by Tim Gallagher | Photographs by Jim Lee

Tara and Jesse Pedersen (and Oreo) relax in the living room of their home in Lawton, Iowa. The Pedersens, natives of Correctionville and Anthon, respectively, enjoy raising their children in the Lawton-Bronson School District, just a few minutes east of Sioux City. Inset: Jesse and Tara Pedersen reside in the West Creek development in Lawton, Iowa. Their home was built seven years ago.

Jesse and Tara Pedersen lived in Correctionville, then Sioux City, and then a home in the older, more established portion of Lawton.

Seven years ago, Jesse mentioned to his neighbor, Roy Perry, that he’d like to have a home built for his growing family. Perry had constructed only his own home at that point. He has since built several others.

“Roy and I tossed the idea around and we didn’t shop around at all,” Jesse said. “We found plans of two houses and merged the ideas.”

“All decisions were based on us being a family of five,” said Tara, motioning toward their sons, Cade, Kyle and Jake, boys who are involved in all sorts of sports and extracurricular activities in the Lawton-Bronson Community School District.

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Children play basketball at the home of Jesse and Tara Pedersen in Lawton, Iowa. The court has become a gathering place for young people in Lawton.

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As Tara talked about their sons, nearly a dozen other boys and girls from Lawton filed into the home before spilling into their backyard where they quickly began a game of basketball on the cement court.

“We didn’t want a fancy house, but rather something that’s open for everyone,” Tara said. “That basketball court can be full when we’re gone and that’s great. The neighborhood knows it’s open.”

Small-town life is something the Pedersens sought in 2004 when they relocated to Lawton. The former Tara Thompson grew up in Correctionville, Iowa, while Jesse is a native of Anthon.

After the couple wed, they made their home in Correctionville before moving to Sioux City when Jesse accepted a position with Sioux City Fire Rescue, a post that required him to reside within 10 miles of the city.

“We lived in Sioux City a couple of years and then found a house in Lawton and moved in 2004, just as Cade was starting preschool,” Jesse said. “Both Tara and I had come from smaller towns and we liked the idea of living in one.”

The L-B school district rated highly in state standards, the Pedersens said, and being in Lawton put both closer to their hometowns.

Above: The basement doubles as a family room in the home of Jesse and Tara Pedersen in Lawton, Iowa. Left: Kyle, 14, and Cade, 16, Pedersen play ping-pong in the basement of their family’s home in Lawton, Iowa. The basement, as you can see in this photo, is a favorite hangout for boys in Lawton.

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The kitchen island was designed and constructed by Jeff Shupe, of Mapleton, Iowa.

The dining room square feet serves to connect the kitchen and a busy backyard/patio area.

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SIOUXLAND LIFE

Their first home in Lawton, a threebedroom house, measured 1,200 square feet on the main floor and 800 square feet downstairs. It served their family as it grew. As time passed, though, the Pedersens and their sons outgrew the space.

Perry worked with the couple as they devised a five-bedroom floor plan consisting of 2,200 square feet on the main floor and 2,050 square feet in a finished basement. The basement, which has two bedrooms for the older sons, has a bar, a giant flat-screen TV and plenty of room for foosball, air hockey, bumper pool and ping-pong.

“We have very competitive tournaments here,” said Jesse, who coaches junior high football and high school track at Lawton-Bronson.

The main floor features two bedrooms, three bathrooms, an office, a living room, dining room and kitchen. The kitchen, said Tara, is where the eating and homework get done.

“We wanted a kitchen island, something that offered the ease of sitting around,” said Tara, an X-ray technician.

“We’re so active that we’re rarely all here at the same time.”

The boys’ activities range from football to basketball to cross country to baseball to track to speech, choir, jazz choir, student council and more, making the 60-second drive to the school in Lawton something the family has done thousands of times.

Not only that, the family frequently hosts special “Team Night” feeds for the squads on which their boys participate.

The football team, for example, has dined in their home in the past, as have both the boys’ and girls’ track teams (twice per season), all at once.

The only time the activity here slows?

When Nebraska plays football. That’s when Jesse takes a seat outside near his gas-powered fire pit and watches the flat screen TV he mounted above their cement patio.

Above: One main-level bedroom serves as Jesse’s office. Jesse works for Sioux City Fire Rescue Department. Left: The master bedroom is one of five bedrooms in the home of Jesse and Tara Pedersen in Lawton, Iowa.

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Jesse and Tara Pedersen and their sons, Cade, 16, Kyle, 14, and Jake, 8, reside in Lawton, Iowa. This picture shows Jake’s bedroom.

Above: The fire pit is fueled with natural gas, a heating source for the garage. This is a popular spot after Lawton-Bronson Eagles football games each Friday evening in the fall. Right: One main-level bedroom serves as Jesse’s office. Jesse, who works for Sioux City Fire Rescue, is a former member of the Lawton-Bronson Board of Education and currently a coach for junior high football and high school track teams.

“I was coaching at the state track meet in 2016 and our coaching staff spent nights during the meet outside the motel sitting around the fire,” Jesse said.

“I came home and told Tara that we had to get a gas fire pit.”

Jesse tapped into the line that heats their garage and fanned the flames, so to speak.

“And then the Olympics came on that fall (2016) and Tara mentioned how neat it would be to watch the Olympics on a 10

SEPTEMBER 2017

TV outside,” Jesse recalled. “When she came home from work the next day, the TV was in place.”

The kitchen TV, they said, receives the most viewing hours, followed closely by the patio TV. Kids can play while adults watch the Huskers or gather on a Friday night following an Eagles football game, a rotating tradition shared among families of Lawton-Bronson players.

“We love getting together with

SIOUXLAND LIFE

coaches and other parents on a Friday night after a home football game,” Jesse said.

There are times when the children spill over into the neighbors’ swimming pool, and that’s OK. Heck, when neighbors Adam and Jen Carlson erected a fence around their pool, they purposely put in a gate that connected their space to the Pedersens’ backyard.

“Yup, they did a fence with a gate just for us,” said Jesse, a comment that

“We didn’t want a fancy house, but rather something that’s open for everyone.”

TARA PEDERSEN illustrates how close residents of the West Creek neighborhood have grown.

The Pedersens estimate their home was the 15th built in this development, just north of Highway 20. There are now around 40 homes in their neighborhood with a few lots remaining.

As children filed in and out, the Pedersens called each by name. And soon, the pick-up basketball game morphed into a ping-pong battle downstairs for some, a video gaming session for others. The family of five, in a sense, had grown to a family of about 20.

Tara Pedersen smiled as Oreo, the family’s cock-a-chon greeted yet another child who walked through the front door.

“I hope our house is an extension of us,” she said, “warm, friendly and inviting.”

Oreo, a cock-a-shon, is very much at home in the living room.

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BACK TO SCHOOL tasty

lunches

NOONTIME

NOSHES: UNIQUE TREATS AND HEALTHY EATS FROM A SCHOOL LUNCHROOM CHEF

d

Text by Earl Horlyk

DAKOTA DUNES | Ali Lampman looks and acts nothing like the “school lunch lady” you probably had as a kid.

Instead, the Lunchtime Solutions, Inc. menu research and development chef is Ali Lampman, creating delicious, healthy menu research & meals that kids will actudevelopment chef ally want to eat. for the Dakota Dunesbased Lunchtime “Kids want several Solutions, Inc. entree choices plus they want an unlimited fruit and veggie bar on a daily basis,” Lampman said inside a conference room of the privately owned K “Although we provide food -12 food service management company service for Dakota Valley and based out of Dakota Dunes. “The kids are Hinton, we also have contracts our customers and they’re not afraid to with districts in Minnesota and give us feedback.”

Missouri,” she explained. “There are A business that has contracts with different meal expectations that we’ve more than 50 school districts across the identified.” country, Lunchtime Solutions landed a For instance, a student will always spot in Food Management Magazine’s have a choice between a regular school Top 50 Contract Management Compalunch staple like chicken nuggets, as well nies earlier this year. as a cozier “homestyle” meal like a beef Lampman said the company’s success stroganoff. comes from the concept that there’s no “Some students are used to nothing such thing as a one-size-fit-all school but made-from-scratch food,” Lampdistrict. man said. “That’s why we’ll always have something made from scratch.”

Likewise, a fruit and veggie bar with 8 to 10 different fresh or

A Chinese taco – made with an Asian slaw and a pineapple salsa – allows students to experiment with unique tastes in a school lunchroom setting.

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SIOUXLAND LIFE

A Chicken and Waffle sandwich is one of Chef Ali Lampman’s newest school lunch creations

canned options for kids to choose.

“Even better than that, we work with local farmers whenever possible,” Lampman said. “If it is logistically feasible, we’ll do a field trip where kids can see where the produce is grown.”

This is important to Lampman, who thinks nutrition is an important part of any school curriculum.

“Instructing children on healthy food and lifestyle is a big priority for me,” she said.

First, Lampman works with compliance staff in creating menus that limit calorie intake and curb trans fat and sodium consumption while increasing fruit and

Lunchtime Solutions, Inc. menu research & development chef Ali Lampman enjoys doing chef demos, which allow her to prepare food in front of students.

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But then she has a little fun.

“I love going into the classroom while doing a chef demo,” Lampman said.

“That’s when I’ll cook an item right in front of the kids.”

Oftentimes, she’ll try a healthy item kids might be used to eating in school, like a Chinese stir fry or chicken florentine.

“They get to see it made right in front of them,” Lampman said. “They’ll know all of the ingredients it takes to make a healthy dish.”

When she’s not in a classroom, Lampman is creating new recipes.

Indeed, she’s especially excited by such unusual lunchroom fare as a Cuban hot dog (a hot dog served in a flatbread, along with Cuban sandwich fixings like ham, cheese and pickles); a chicken and waffle sandwich; and a Chinese taco.

“Our Chinese taco has a fresh slaw with Asian flavoring, veggies and a homemade pineapple salsa served in a crunchy taco shell,” she said. “It’s delicious.”

School lunches have come a long way

over the years and Lampman is pleased that Lunchtime Solutions is creating innovative meals for a potentially picky clientele.

“If we’re able to teach kids healthy eating habits at an early age,” she said, “they’ll be eating healthy foods for the rest of their lives.”

And who knows, maybe Lampman will spur students into considering a career in the school food service industry?

“I have no doubt that I’m serving the next generation of foodies,” she said with a smile.

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SIOUXLAND LIFE

Lunchtime Solutions, Inc. Chef Ali Lampman was inspired by international taste when creating a Cuban hot dog. A variation on the Cuban sandwich, A Cuban hot dog features a hot dog that’s wrapped inside ham and cheese in a flatbread.

BACK TO SCHOOL a

new president

NEW BVU PRESIDENT HITS GROUND – OR LAKESHORE DRIVE – RUNNING

s

18th BVU head poised to bond school, community

Text and photos by Tim Gallagher

STORM LAKE, Iowa | Eight days after beginning his tenure as Buena Vista University’s 18th president, Dr. Joshua Merchant gathered his family and a couple of dozen BVU students and staff members and hit the street.

Lakeshore Drive, to be exact.

Merchant and his band of Beavers walked and skipped along the parade route, one of 100-some entries in the July Fourth Star Spangled Spectacular’s Big Parade, the largest Independence Day parade in Siouxland.

“It’s huge!” said Merchant, who had never seen this parade before. “I handed out all my candy pretty early because the crowd was something like 10 deep along the side of the street.”

It created a bit of a presidential pickle: What could he give to parade-watchers who cheered BV’s entry in this parade.

“I just started giving out high-fives and people seemed to enjoy it,” he said. “They were pretty excited for Buena Vista.”

Merchant’s “one-small step” approach illustrates the tact he’s taking as he settles into a sprint of sorts leading the small university on the shores of Storm Lake. A few nights later, he threw out the first pitch to begin a Storm Lake Whitecaps baseball game at Memorial Field.

At the press conference to introduce himself in March, the 43-year-old Albion (Michigan) College graduate promised to join his wife, Carrie, and their sons, Elijah and Griffin, in partaking in all things Storm Lake, from 4-H activities to youth league football to spaghetti suppers that raise funds for the local booster club.

Buena Vista, he said, works in concert with Storm Lake. And vice versa. A better BVU leads to a stronger Storm Lake, which emboldens Northwest Iowa and strengthens the state.

Merchant has been at the epicenter of growth and, well, some decline during a 19-year career in enrollment, fundraising, development and more. He brings

Dr. Joshua Merchant, 43, began his work as president at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa, on June 26.

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Left: Buena Vista University President Dr. Joshua Merchant handed out high-fives along Lakeshore Drive while leading a BVU Beaver contingent in the Star Spangled Spectacular Big Parade in Storm Lake, Iowa, on July 4. Right: Dr. Joshua and Carrie Merchant are the parents of sons Elijah, a freshman at Storm Lake High School, and Griffin, a sixth-grader at Storm Lake Middle School. Photos provided

pieces of each stop along the way to his place as Buena Vista’s new president.

Merchant, who was raised on a family farm in Michigan, attended Albion College, the first of his immediate family to do so. The speech communications and theater major landed his first job in marketing, working for the Farm Bureau in Michigan. He then landed a position with American Agrisurance, which was based in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

“I managed crop insurance and crop insurance sales from home in Michigan,” he recalled. “Looking back, I’d say it was a job, not necessarily a career. I hadn’t found my passion yet.”

A friend mentioned to Merchant that the Future Farmers of America in Michigan was seeking a foundation director to lead fundraising and development efforts. Merchant took the job and was soon promoted to work in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Michigan State University, whereupon he was encouraged to tackle a Master’s degree in ag extension education.

Fundraising and development posts would follow in the Department of Veterinary Education at Michigan State and at the School of Business at Central Michigan University.

“Our (fundraising) goal was $6.1 million at Central Michigan and I think we finished at around $12 million,” Merchant said.

While working at Central Michigan, he earned a doctorate in educational leadership from Western Michigan University.

And that’s when the Interlochen 16

SEPTEMBER 2017

The Rev. Paul Bengston, left, speaks with incoming Buena Vista University President Dr. Joshua Merchant during a meet-and-greet with the public on March 29 in Storm Lake, Iowa.

Center for the Arts near Traverse City, Michigan, recruited him for a leadership position, serving a place he knew much about as Interlochen’s reputation for arts programming was second to none in the Upper Midwest.

“As a high schooler, I played saxophone and French horn (concert band) and mellaphone (marching band). I was big into band and musical theater,” he said.

At Interlochen, his first cabin was one last used by pianist Van Cliburn. And

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while working one day, actor Robin Williams stopped by to seek directions to the president’s office.

Merchant would have stayed longer, but his alma mater came calling, seeking him, the president of the alumni board, to become vice president of advancement, the administrator to oversee alumni and marketing. “I worked at Albion for six years and it was both rewarding and difficult,” he said.

Albion gave him and his three brothers a launching point for their careers. It’s

Carrie and Dr. Joshua Merchant, the new Buena Vista University president, greeted the public and the press on March 29 at Siebens Forum. Merchant began his duties at BVU on June 26, replacing Dr. Frederick Moore, who is stepping down after 22 years.

a place he loved for what it did for him.

The difficulty came in navigating the waters of change, change brought about as Michigan weaved and wobbled and struggled through the Great Recession.

Enrollment declined from about 430 students per class to 330. The public school district in Albion closed. The automobile industry in the state had to be bailed out by the federal government. Residents fled their $1 million homes in the Detroit area. The endowment at Albion in this time went from around $200 million to $124 million.

“It was a bit of a romantic curse,” he said. “It’s hard to make decisions involving the sands of my heart. It’s horribly difficult to manage cuts.”

Albion held on. And Merchant’s proud as ever when looking back and considering how its donors, alumni and community stepped up as times got tough. “The experience helped hone my belief in community and how a university is connected to where it is located,” he said.

Another challenge arose virtually out of the blue when a former coworker directed Merchant to the University of North Florida, which sought a vice president of development and alumni engagement. The 16,000-student university,

a virtual newbie founded in 1984, would give Merchant the chance to work at an NCAA Division I institution in the metropolis of Jacksonville, Florida.

“I had a great experience there,” said Merchant, who also toiled as executive director and CEO for the UNF Foundation, Inc. “We raised $11.4 million when I began and in our first year we grew to $17.8 million. In the second year, we raised $24 million and then $31 million my third year.”

Toward the end of his third year, Buena Vista reached out, seeking a president to replace Dr. Frederick Moore, who, ironically, was heading to Florida after 22 years in Storm Lake.

“I met the search committee and we talked for an hour and 15 minutes,” Merchant said. “I remember calling Carrie and saying, ‘Darn it, I like them!’”

BVU invited the couple to spend 2 1/2 days on campus in January, of all months. The Merchants came away with the belief that Storm Lake was a place they could raise Elijah, a freshman, and Griffin, a sixth-grader.

“The weather in January didn’t scare us,” he said with a laugh.

In February, Merchant met BVU’s

Board of T rustees. BVU extended the job offer, which he and Carrie accepted two days later.

“It was hard leaving North Florida as I had a great connection with my team of 40,” he said. “I think I pushed them and we had fun doing it.”

He sees himself doing some of the same as president at Buena Vista, presiding over an institution that has seen on-campus enrollment settle to around 800 students. Merchant, who noted that the incoming freshman class already represents a year-over-year bump of 14 percent, will keep running, tinkering and internally debating what courses to take while listening to and working with others to shape BV’s future.

“Fred (Moore) gave me some great advice,” Merchant said. “He said you’ll go at a speed you’ve not seen before.

Make sure you find time to be a dad, a husband, and Josh.”

In exchanging high-fives with hundreds of community members along Lakeshore Drive that July 4 holiday, Merchant was being “Josh,” a husband father and brand new Beaver leader seeking to connect his family, his workplace and himself with his new community.

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South Dakota quarterback Chris Streveler pauses after scoring a touchdown during the first half of a game against New Mexico.

Andres Leighton, Associated Press

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SIOUXLAND LIFE

BACK TO SCHOOL quarterbacking

FROM PET PYTHON TO PARKING TICKETS,

USD QB

SHARES HIS GAME PLAN

v

Chris Streveler anxious for 2017 Coyote season

Text by Tim Gallagher

VERMILLION, S.D. | The “big man on campus” at the University of South Dakota kind of forces himself to get out “on campus.”

Chris Streveler, starting quarterback at the University of South Dakota, isn’t one to be found traipsing back and forth from classroom to dormitory to student union.

He’s already graduated, you see. Not once, but twice.

Streveler, the first Coyote in five seasons to be named Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Year in 2016, earned Academic All-Big Ten honors twice while playing quarterback for the Minnesota Golden Gophers. The native of Lake Crystal, Illinois, earned a degree in kinesiology from Minnesota in the spring of 2016 and, as a graduate, could transfer without penalty to any other NCAA Division I institution.

He chose USD; and the graduate transfer became an impact player, accounting for 31 of the team’s 41 touchdowns during a 4-7 campaign last year.

He hit his receivers as well as he hit the books, earning a master’s degree in August in sports management. As the 2017 season commenced, Streveler hit the books again, embarking on his second master’s degree during his fifth and final season as a collegiate quarterback.

But, “big man on campus?” Not really.

“I do ride my bike around campus,” he said. “But my classes are all online and

Tim Gallagher, Sioux City Journal

University of South Dakota quarterback Chris Streveler, who bikes around campus, is back once again.

I live in an apartment. I also spend a lot of time watching (football) film and in meetings with coaches.”

Streveler said he kind of forced himself to get out and on campus on

Thursdays last fall in Vermillion.

“I’d go eat and interact with some students,” he said. “I had to make myself get out and do that.”

This fall, as Streveler begins another master’s in interdisciplinary studies, he’ll spend time lifting, working out and breaking down film. He’ll do everything he can as quarterback and a captain to lead the Coyotes in the rugged Missouri Valley. He’ll also keep an eye on his football future, hoping that he can extend his playing career.

“I’ll do a pro day,” said Streveler, the son of Christine and Erik Streveler. “Maybe there will be something in the NFL, maybe Canada, maybe Europe.”

As he watches NFL games during the exhibition and early season, Streveler keeps up with former teammates and foes who have landed spots on NFL rosters. Three former teammates, for example, saw action as the Jacksonville Jaguars faced the New England Patriots in the preseason opener for both teams.

And while that’s an eye-opener for any college athlete, the immediate task at hand involves the Coyotes’ seasonopener at Drake University on Sept. 2.

“I’m very healthy and very excited to get the season going,” said Streveler, who connected on 164 of 273 passes for 1,947 yards last season.

Streveler paused before a lifting session to share his responses on a variety of topics, ranging from Tim Tebow to his pet python.

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South Dakota’s Chris Streveler talks during football media day in Vermillion, S.D. Justin Wan, Sioux City Journal

with Chris & Q Streveler QA What’s the biggest venue you’ve played in? “Michigan State (Spartan Stadium) was the biggest, but Wisconsin (Camp Randall Stadium) might have been the most fun.”

What are your plans after your playing days are done? “Maybe I’ll go into school administration, like at a high school, or into sports sales.”

Hobbies: “I like the outdoors; I hike and bike. And I love watching football.”

Favorite team: “Patriots. I’m a Tom Brady fan. The Bears are my second-favorite team.”

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Baseball? “I’m a big Cubs fan. I took a SnapChat when the Cubs won the World Series, I was pretty excited.”

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Toughest class he’s taken at USD: “Sports Law was very demanding.”

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Diet: “I eat a lot, but it’s things like eggs, oats and lean meats like turkey and chicken. In eighth-grade, I put myself on a meal plan. I was that serious about it, even then.”

If one play stands out... “I’d say a touchdown pass to Shamar Jackson on a fourth-and-13 with 27 seconds left against Weber State.” The TD got USD into overtime that day, a game that played out before more than 8,800 fans at the DakotaDome. USD won that shootout, 52-49, in double overtime.

Any other quarterbacks in the family? “One. My grandpa, Norm Streveler, played 7-man football in Indiana. He was a quarterback.”

Why number 15? “I wore No. 5 in high school and at Minnesota. I decided to change things up when I came to USD. I picked No. 15 because of Tim Tebow. I think Tebow gets a bit of a bad rap, for a guy that does everything right.”

Favorite music: “Rap and country.”

Pet: “A ball python snake named Onix.”

For a guy with two degrees and one more on the way, is there any debt?

“Scholarships have taken care of everything, thankfully. I’m fortunate, but I’ve also devoted a lot of time to football.

My only debt might be two parking tickets.”

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PreParing for Your Home insPection Whether you’re closing on your first house or your fifth, buying a home can be both exciting and overwhelming at the same time.

Although not required by law, many lenders do require a home inspection, which helps protect the large investment you are about to make. It’s important to learn as much as you can about the physical condition of the home before you buy it, to ensure it’s a sound investment. And while an inspection cannot guarantee the condition of a home, the inspector can alert you to items that need repair or any safety concerns.

Here are a few things to keep in mind about the home inspection process.

1) Inspections Should Happen As Soon as Possible It is the buyer’s responsibility to schedule and pay for the inspection. You should schedule the home inspection as soon as you can after your offer has been accepted. This ensures you’ll have enough time to request repairs or to get out of the contract if the inspector discovers a dealbreaker for you. When choosing an inspector, your realtor may have a recommendation or you can find one through the American Society of Home Inspectors.

2) Inspections Describe the Basic Physical Condition of a Home An inspector’s job is to examine the current

condition of a house. This includes pointing out what components and systems may need major repair or replacement. The inspector will examine the home’s exterior, including steps, porches, decks, chimneys, roof, windows and doors and also look inside the home to examine the attic, electrical components, plumbing, heating and air conditioning, basement/crawlspaces and garages.

A home inspection will not include cosmetic issues that do not affect the working condition of the home.

3) Be There on Inspection Day As the buyer, it’s important for you to be at the home for the inspection. Ask the inspector if you can follow him or her around to better understand what they are examining and to ask questions if needed. This is a great way for you to get to know your new home and become familiar with areas that may need attention.

conduct a final inspection. This walk-through provides an opportunity to spot items which may need to be corrected or adjusted, learn about the way your new home works and ask questions about anything you don’t understand. Create a checklist that includes everything that needs attention, and you and your builder should agree to a timetable for repairs. It is important that you be thorough and observant during the walk-through. Examine the surfaces of counters, fixtures, floors and walls carefully for possible damage.

It’s important to keep in mind that no home is perfect. But the inspection report should help you determine if it’s the perfect home for you.

After the inspection, the inspector will provide you with a report. You can then determine if you will ask the seller to make any repairs or give you a credit to make the repairs on your own.

Inspections for New Construction Homes If you’re buying a newly constructed home, the process is slightly different than the inspection for existing homes. Before you go to settlement, you and your builder will do a walk-through to

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SIOUXLAND LIFE

712-255-3852 siouxlandhba.com SEPTEMBER 2017

21

BACK TO SCHOOL good

advice

WISE

COUNSEL: SCHOOL COUNSELORS GIVE STUDENTS TOOLS TO MAKE LIFE DECISIONS

s

Text by Earl Horlyk | Photos by Justin Wan

East Middle School counselor Gail Haight said today’s children experience bigger issues but they also have access to more types of services.

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SEPTEMBER 2017

SIOUXLAND LIFE

SIOUX CITY | There are days in which Darrell Langley doesn’t know if he’s coming or going.

“Let’s see, I’m at Perry Creek Elementary School three days a week, Riverside one-and-a-half-days and Clark for the remaining day,” he said, counting on his fingers. “That adds up to five days, right?”

If Langley seems a bit frenetic, it’s simply because he is a traveling elementary school counselor with the Sioux City Community School District.

“I began my career as a teacher before becoming a counselor,” he explained.

“Then, I became an assistant principal and a principal before becoming a counselor for three elementaries.”

“I counsel around 1,100 kids and I love every minute of it,” Langley said with a smile.

Like Langley, Gail Haight taught before becoming a counselor.

“I was a special education teacher for 10 years before becoming an elementary school counselor,” she said. “I’ve been a counselor at East Middle for the past 15 years.”

“They used to say that the smaller the child, the smaller the problem,” Haight said, outside her office door. “That’s not always the case.”

During her 42-year career in education, North High School counselor Audrey Netley said she became interested

in counseling after securing one of her first teaching jobs.

“At one time, I was a high school drivers ed teacher,” she said. “That was actually good training because kids really open up in close quarters.”

Since then, Netley has been informing students that the choices they make in high school can influence their entire lives.

“When I began counseling at North High School, the big thing was about bullying,” she noted. “Nowadays, it’s all about cyber-bullying and that’s even worse.”

GETTING READY FOR SCHOOL Darrell Langley was busy conducting a special seminar at the Sioux City Community School District’s 2017-18 school year.

“I’m teaching school bus drivers and lunch personnel about signs they should be on the lookout for regarding children in trouble,” he said. “Everybody needs to be on the same page and speak a common language when it comes to the kids.”

This is especially important for Langley since he’s counseling so many elementary school students.

“It’s usually teachers and parents who alert to possible problems,” he said. “But other support staff may see another side of a student.”

While Langley is acclimating a young child to the rigors of education, he’s also preparing that child for the future.

By the time elementary school students

graduate to the middle school, they should be ready for tougher classes and more responsibilities.

Or at least that’s the goal, according to East Middle School’s Haight.

“I’ll never discount that change is scary,” she said. “In middle school, you’ll have multiple teachers, lockers with locks and lunches with a lot of strange kids,” she said. “Those things can be daunting when you’re trying to fit in.”

SOME LIGHT IN THE SHADOWS Haight said one of the best things about middle school is that counselors shadow the same students from sixth to eighth grade.

“That’s really important because I get to see the kids and chart their progress,” she explained. “A child can be an entirely different person on his first day of middle school and his last day.”

For instance, middle-schoolers are given more independence to explore

“Believe you can do whatever you set on doing.”

“Follow your heart.”

Hannah Voight, East Middle School eighthgrader

Destiny Adams, East Middle School seventhgrader

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SEPTEMBER 2017

23

“Don’t do anything you’d be embarrassed to tell your family about.”

interests like sports, music and hobbies.

Still, they also need to hone their time management skills while satisfying their academic goals.

In other words, kids are being prepared to become high school kids.

“It may sound overly dramatic but the decisions as a high school freshman can impact everything after that,” said North High School’s Netley.

EDUCATION AS AN EQUALIZER Netley said education is a way out for some students and an equalizer for others.

“You have to start thinking about your post-high school life while you’re 14 or 15 years old,” she said. “You need to

make sure your grades are where they should be and that you’re saving money.”

Having said that, Netley is aware there are more temptations than ever for students.

“Technology is wonderful because it gives everyone access to a world of information at our fingertips,” she allowed.

“Still, kids do not realize that there is a very steep learning curve when it comes to the internet.”

This is why Netley and her fellow school counselors spend considerable time on hot-button topics like cyberbullying and, even, sexting.

“The internet is forever,” she said.

“So don’t put anything online that you’d have to worry that a prospective college,

“Stay organized.”

Max Barker, East Middle School eighthgrader Ella Jepsen, East Middle School eighthgrader

employer or family member will see.”

Despite that, Netley admitted it takes a village to raise a child.

“I know it may sound simple,” she said.

“It’s also true.”

“Keep your head up.”

BUILDING A SUCCESSFUL TEAM Netley said she wouldn’t be an effective high school counselor without input from teachers, administrators, support staff and the families of students “They’re with the students more than the counselors,” she said. “They’re more likely to see a change in a student’s demeanor than we are.”

Sometimes, a counselor is able to discuss an issue with a child. Sometimes, outside help might be recommended.

“We may know of resources that can be helpful for parents,” Netley said.

In addition, parents can stay current by utilizing online tools like the Sioux City Community School’s Infinite Campus.

“This allows parents to chart test grades, homework assignments and, even, absences,” Netley said. “It’s a great tool to have because it keeps parents in the know.”

Haight nodded her head in agreement.

“Infinite Campus can prevent a small problem from becoming a big one,” she suggested.

Langley knows even small students can have big problems.

He knows it’s a counselor’s job to help make the scholastic experience a positive one.

“We’re here for the whole child,” Langley said. “We’re giving them the confidence that will serve them for the rest of their lives.”

Cole Johnson, East Middle School eighthgrader

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25

BACK TO SCHOOL twice

as nice

Kelsey Cooper, left, and her sister Kayla pose in a radiology classroom at St. Luke’s College in Sioux City.

The twins, from Orange City, Iowa, both graduated in 2017 and are now working and living in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

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SEPTEMBER 2017

SIOUXLAND LIFE

Kayla Cooper, left, and her sister, Kelsey, talk about attending school together at St. Luke’s College in Sioux City.

ST. LUKE’S COLLEGE EXPERIENCE IS

TWICE AS NICE

s

FOR ORANGE CITY TWINS Text by Dolly A. Butz | Photos by Tim Hynds

SIOUX CITY | When she was younger, Kayla Cooper wasn’t grossed out by the medical shows she watched on TV, but fascinated by the sometimes stomachchurning procedures.

Still, the Orange City, Iowa, native didn’t see herself pursuing a career in the profession until one of her aunts encouraged her and her twin sister, Kelsey, to work in a nursing home. It didn’t take long for Kayla to fall in love with patient care.

“It’s really nice to see how (patients) can improve so fast and that you’ve made an impact,” said the 22-yearold, who graduated with an associate

degree in nursing from St. Luke’s College in May and is pursing her bachelor of science in nursing degree online through the Sioux City college.

Unlike her sister, Kelsey Cooper said she always knew she wanted to work in the medical field, but she said she didn’t know what sub-specialty would be right for her until she learned more about radiology.

“That sounded really interesting and fun to me,” said Kelsey, who also received her associate degree in the spring. “You do shadow days where you just go in and watch them and I ended up really loving it once I got to see

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SEPTEMBER 2017

27

“I was really debating whether I wanted to stay here or move up to Sioux Falls with her. She wasn’t sure what she was going to do for room and living situation up there, so I was like, ‘I can come there. That’s fine.’ For me, nursing’s hard, so it’s super nice to have her with me.

She’s a huge support.”

KAYLA COOPER everything they actually do in the X-ray department.”

After graduating from Unity Christian High School in May 2015, the twins opted to enroll in classes at St. Luke’s College in Sioux City, which two of their aunts had attended. The college, located on UnityPoint Health-St. Luke’s campus, offers bachelor of science degrees in nursing and health science; associate degrees in nursing, radiologic technology and respiratory care and certificate programs in medical laboratory science and phlebotomy.

“It was one of those things where it was last-minute,” Kayla said of her and her twin’s decisions. “We grew up doing everything together, so it’s almost that little security that you have – if you have a bad day, she’s going to be there.”

Although the twins went to the same college and pursued medical careers, the sisters have different likes. Kayla prefers being outdoors, active and traveling, while Kelsey is more into books and movies.

Kayla said the two saw being able to live together as a definite perk, but she said it wasn’t the main reason why they decided to attend the same college.

“I ended up really liking the instructors and really liking the facility. We’re right across from the hospital,” Kayla said of St. Luke’s College.

Kelsey said she liked the way the radiologic technology program allowed her to get hands-on experience early on in the hospital setting.

“Some programs don’t really do clinicals until the end,” she said. “We got to actually take X-rays the whole two years we were actually here.”

While in school at the same time, 28

SEPTEMBER 2017

Kelsey Cooper, left, and her sister Kayla pose in a nursing classroom at St. Luke’s College in Sioux City. The twins, from Orange City, both graduated in 2017 and are now working and living in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Kelsey said she and Kayla went their separate ways as they pursued two different educational tracks.

“We weren’t always around each other, because she was always busy with her nursing stuff and I was always busy with my radiology stuff,” she said.

Sherry McCarthy, enrollment management and marketing coordinator for St. Luke’s College, said seven sets of siblings are currently attending the college. While having a set of twins as students is unique, she said it’s not unusual for family members to attend at the same time. Some are in the same programs, while others pursue different educational tracks.

“I don’t think we’ve ever had twins before, not at least at the same time,” she said.

Kayla and Kelsey aren’t the only twins in the family. They have sisters who are also twins.

There’s a chance that their younger

SIOUXLAND LIFE

sister Ashley could eventually wind up at the college. She and her twin sister Amber will be attending Western Iowa Tech Community College in the fall.

Kayla says Ashley is torn between becoming a paramedic or a nurse, while Amber wants to get into law enforcement.

After graduation, Kelsey decided to study cardiac ultrasound full-time at Southeast Tech in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Not surprisingly, Kayla agreed to live with her sister again, after landing a nursing job at Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center.

“I was really debating whether I wanted to stay here or move up to Sioux Falls with her. She wasn’t sure what she was going to do for room and living situation up there, so I was like, ‘I can come there. That’s fine,’” Kayla said.

“For me, nursing’s hard, so it’s super nice to have her with me. She’s a huge support.”

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29

BACK TO SCHOOL what’s

banned

Mande Moran, a fifth-grade teacher at Sioux City’s Spalding Park Elementary School, holds three plastic rocking seats that she will use in her classroom this school year.

WHAT’S BANNED IN SIOUX CITY COMMUNITY SCHOOLS?

s

Text by Dolly A. Butz | Photos by Tim Hynds

SIOUX CITY | Toward the end of the 2016-2017 school year, fidget spinners began showing up in fifth-grade teacher Mande Moran’s Spalding Park Environmental Sciences Elementary School classroom.

Moran, who is in her fourth year of teaching, confiscated the metal and plastic gadgets that are spun on the finger, placing them in a middle drawer in her desk.

While some children with attentiondeficit/hyperactivity disorder need

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SEPTEMBER 2017

something to fidget with to block out distractions and increase productivity, Moran said her students were using fidget spinners as toys.

“After they became a problem last year, we sent a note home saying, ‘No more fidget spinners,’ but students still try to sneak them in,” said Moran, who kept some fidget spinners for as little as a day after a first-time offense.

“Next time it’s mine until Christmas break or the end of the year,” she said.

“Leave your toys at home!”

SIOUXLAND LIFE

Moran, however, has some toys of her own. Minions, yellow creatures with bulging eyes that appear in the “Despicable Me” franchise, decorate her classroom, along with a wall hanging aside the door frame that states her rules in colorful fonts: “Behave. Show respect. Be polite. Try your hardest.”

The characters have been a popular way to teach laboratory safety in some middle and high schools.

In Moran’s classroom, the Minion figurines and magnets, which will

BANNED ITEMS

Although it’s filled with her items now, Mande Moran, a fifth-grade teacher at Sioux City’s Spalding Park Elementary School, stashes confiscated nuisance items that students bring into the classroom in a drawer in her desk. One of the items banned from her classroom is the fidget spinner, which she said most students use simply as a toy.

inspire her fifth-graders to dig into literacy, are kept on a file cabinet or her desk.

Keeping kids focused and on task can be challenging. Moran said students can easily become distracted playing with standard school supplies, such as a pencil.

This year, students in Moran’s classroom will sit at tables, rather than in desks. They’ll have a few different types of seating to chose from, including yoga balls, ottomans and plastic rocker chairs, which Moran said will help them move around and collaborate with each other.

“They’re able to move comfortably where they want to sit and learn, so that they’re not confined to a desk,” she said.

Cell phones and smartphones, which Moran said most students have, won’t be a distraction. They aren’t allowed in the classroom and must be kept in lockers. She said that rule, which is written in the Sioux City Community School District’s handbook, could change in the future, as some schools in other districts around the country have allowed students to use smartphones as a learning tool.

Moran said she doesn’t see her students needing to use a smartphone for that purpose because of the Future Ready Initiative, which puts devices, such as tablets, in her students’ hands.

Internet access on these school-issued devices, however, is restricted for safety purposes.

“I think the way that we have brought it into our lessons extends the lesson rather than hurts the lesson,” Moran said. “We spent the whole summer creating these lessons.”

Pagers, two-way radios and laser lights are electronic devices that could land students in hot water if they

• Squirt guns • Slingshots • Chains • Spikes • Belly shirts • Sagging pants • Tobacco products • Drugs and alcohol • Firearms • Toy guns • Airsoft pistols • Toy grenades • Slippers • Bedroom attire • Holes or slits in clothing mid-thigh or above • Hats and caps (unless necessary for a specific class or activity) • Hairstyles, makeup, clothing or other body adornments that interfere with or disrupt the learning atmosphere • Electronic cigarettes • Sweatbands, bandannas, do-rags or any other head coverings (unless used with a religious affiliation) • Tank tops, spaghetti strap clothing or muscle shirts *This list from the Sioux City Community Schools Parent/Guardian and Student Handbook and West, East and North High School handbooks is not inclusive of all descriptions.

bring them to school, according to the district’s handbook. Possessing BB guns, air pistols or electronic cigarettes on school property is also a violation of the Student Code.

Even the clothing, hairstyles and jewelry other students wear could disrupt learning, according to the handbook, which states that students are “to be dressed and groomed appropriately for the educational environment.”

Unless worn in affiliation with a student’s religion, sweatbands, bandannas, do-rags and other head coverings are not permitted. Students aren’t allowed to wear clothing suggestive of alcohol, nicotine or drugs, either.

Students should keep their chains and spikes at home, which the handbook said could pose a safety hazard.

As far as dress goes, Moran said the only issues she’s run into involved inappropriate footwear, such as flip-flops.

“On P.E. day, wear tennis shoes,” she said. “We really haven’t had an issue with dress.”

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SEPTEMBER 2017

31

BACK TO SCHOOL hip

looks

Younkers’ Mavis Klein said Adidas, Dockers and Ralph Lauren remain go-to brands for the scholastic set.

FASHION 101: BACK TO SCHOOL CLOTHING THAT WILL DEFINITELY

MAKE THE GRADE

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Text by Earl Horlyk | Photos by Justin Wan

SIOUX CITY | When does a child become conscious of brand names?

According to Mavis Klein, a special events coordinator at Younkers, it happens earlier than you think.

“Children like the same brand names as their moms and dads,” Klein said in the back-to-school section of the Southern Hills Mall store. “If the parents like Under Armour, so will the children.”

Apparently, Under Armour – a Baltimore, Maryland-based clothier that specializes in footwear, sports and casual 32

SEPTEMBER 2017

apparel – is making the grade for people of all ages.

“It seems to be our go-to brand since Under Armour is popular with both girls and boys from elementary school to high school,” Klein said, straightening a rack of shirts in the boy’s department. “Let’s just say, your kids will likely be decked out in Under Armour from head to toe.”

However, Under Armour isn’t the only brand when it comes to back-to-school fashions.

Klein said evergreen names, such as

SIOUXLAND LIFE

Adidas, Dockers and Ralph Lauren’s Polo brands will never go out of fashion for the scholastic set.

Plus you can’t forget all of the T-shirts, book bags and backpacks that bear the likenesses of favorite pop culture characters.

“Young boys are still into superheroes while young girls are still into characters from (Disney’s 2013’s animated movie) ‘Frozen,’” Klein said.

Wait, isn’t there anything on the pop cultural horizon that would appeal to

Left: Younkers’ special events coordinator Mavis Klein said boys and girls will likely be decked out in Under Armour clothing, from head to toe, when they head back to class.

Right: Klein pulls together a “pretty-in-pink” ensemble that would be perfect for any preteen. Klein said children often express individuality through clothing choice and often get ideas from popular movies, TV shows and fashion websites.

both sexes?

Klein thinks for a moment before coming up with the perfect example: emoji.

Grabbing a jacket that boasts patches representing smiling faces, animals and readily recognizable symbols, she said such emoticon-equipped clothing passes the test for both girls and boys.

“Personally, I don’t understand the appeal (of emoji),” Klein admitted. “Yet if the kids like ’em, so do I.” One fashion trend that Klein actually gets is the one toward frilly and feminine flocks.

Venturing into Younkers’ girls clothing section, she shows peasant tops that wouldn’t look out of place in Haight-Ashbury during the 1970s.

“Put this in the ‘everything old is new again’ column but I definitely remember wearing these Bohemian-style blouses when I was younger,” Klein suggested.

Which brings up an interesting predicament. When parents buy back-to-school duds for their kids, they’re also purchasing garments that

The Bohemian look is back for both moms and their daughters, according to Younkers’ Mavis Klein. “Frilly, feminine tops will be a popular trend this fall” she said.

also appeal to them.

“Mom might be into the Soho hippie look and she’ll pick up a similar top for her daughter,” Klein allowed. “Dad might remember the ‘Teenage mutant Ninja Turtles’ T-shirt he wore as a boy. So guess what dad gets his young son? The very same thing.”

Of course, that only goes so far.

“Because of TV, music and, especially, the internet, young shoppers are savvier than ever about fashion,” Klein said.

“Clothes are a perfect way for young people to express themselves, apart from what anyone else thinks.”

When does a girl begin to express her individuality in clothing?

“I think around the fifth grade,” Klein said without much hesitation.

OK, when does a boy begin to experiment with fashion?

“Well, some guys never want to change things up,” Klein admitted.

“Clothes become like a uniform for them. If the clothes are comfy, they’re all set to go.”

And that’s fine by Klein.

“I’ve always liked this time of the year because it’s fun to keep tabs on the trends,” she said.

Looking over racks of emoji-related clothing next to nouveau retro tops, Klein said there’s apparel for every taste.

“New clothes and a new look go together with a new school year,” she said.

33

BACK TO SCHOOL food

packs

Linda Scheid, executive director of the Food Bank of Siouxland, displays a sample of the types of foods included in the Food Bank’s backpacks.

BACKPACK PROGRAM GIVES STUDENTS NUTRITIOUS MEALS

w

Text by Lindsey Nelson | Photos by Jim Lee

‌When Food for Kids launched in the fall of 2006, Linda Scheid had only been working at the Food Bank of Siouxland for a few months.

“I came in April of 2006 and the board approved the program later that fall,” says Scheid. Her excitement and passion for the program grew quickly.

“When we learned that Sioux City’s participation in the free- and reducedlunch program was greater than most, we knew we needed something to feed these kids when they weren’t in school.”

Now in her 11th year with the Food

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SEPTEMBER 2017

Bank, the executive director has seen the program grow. In 2006, the program started by providing weekly meal sacks to students from four area elementary schools.

In 2017, the Food Bank distributed 45,990 packs to eight elementary schools: Bryant, Hunt, Irving, Liberty, Loess Hills, Riverside, Unity and Lewis & Clark.

This year, South Sioux City’s Harney Elementary becomes the program’s ninth school. “With the

SIOUXLAND LIFE

CONTINUED ON PAGE 36

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35

“When we learned that Sioux City’s participation in the free- and reducedlunch program was greater than most, we knew we needed something to feed these kids when they weren’t in school.”

LINDA SCHEID, executive director of Food Bank of Siouxland addition of Harney, we anticipate adding 135 sacks per week,” Scheid says, making the weekly number of packs produced to around 2,000. “We’re going to break all of our records this year.”

So how do these sacks get assembled? Each week, three groups of 12-15 volunteers assemble 600 sacks in what Scheid calls “an assembly line.” “Some volunteer groups like to chat and have a good time while they’re putting

A sample of the types of foods included in the Food Bank’s BackPack program.

together their packs, others get right down to business,” Scheid says. “We encourage either and are always looking for great volunteers.”

Each easy-to-open pack contains eight items: two microwavable meals,

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two cereals, two milks, one fruit cup, and one 100 percent fruit juice box. The packs aren’t just designed to appeal to a child’s taste buds: Scheid says the food items are chosen, not just for their nutrition, but also for their accessibility. “We love how empowering these foods are for kids. Each item is easy for a child to rip open and prepare on their own.”

The items are sealed into a clear sack and then tucked safely away into a blue tote bag. The Sioux City School District delivers the bags to each school on Thursday and places the totes with the students.

“The program truly is a community effort,” Scheid says.

“People are passionate about feeding hungry children, but it is important to remember that even though things are better, they’re not better for everyone.”

Throughout the year, the Food Bank of Siouxland holds a variety of events that raise money to fund the backpack program and encourage people to support it. Scheid estimates that the BackPack program: Food for Kids costs about $200,000 per year and is supported by gifts, grants and donations.

What can the public expect from the Food Bank in the coming school year? Currently it’s working on setting up mobile food pantries that will feed entire families. Scheid says this is a step in the right direction, but the Food Bank still receives calls every day about families needing food.

If you’re interested in volunteering or donating to the Food Bank of Siouxland, visit siouxlandfoodbank.org.

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37

BACK TO SCHOOL new

lab

Michelle Ball, secondary science teacher at Siouxland Christian School, talks about her new classroom.

SIOUXLAND CHRISTIAN SCIENCE TEACHER HAS A HAND – OR TWO – IN

CONSTRUCTING HER CLASSROOM

s

Michelle Ball takes a break from roofing to build at new school Text by Tim Gallagher | Photos by Justin Wan

SIOUX CITY | Perhaps no Siouxland teacher was more excited for the 2017-18 school year to begin than Michelle Ball, science instructor at Siouxland Christian High School in Sioux City.

Ball, after all, spent the last three years teaching in a portable classroom, a site remembered for its mice, its leaky

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sinks and its inability to deliver an environment suitable – or safe – for experiments.

“We had no working fume-hood, so we did experiments outside,” said Ball, mentioning how combining sugar and sulfuric acid to show a geothermic reaction has to coincide with a venting

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system of some sort.

Ball has that now in the new school, a hub of construction activity and excitement on Gordon Drive, immediately east of Menards, site of a new school funded by a $9 million capital campaign.

Ball literally had a hand – make that

Top: Michelle Ball, secondary science teacher at Siouxland Christian School, and her husband, Adam Ball, built the tables, the teacher’s desk and designed eight work stations in the science classroom. Above, left: Michelle Ball demonstrates an app that shows a human skeleton model. Above, right: A new science classroom, furnished with a large touch screen, features tables and desk built by Adam and Michelle Ball.

two hands – involved in constructing the new science lab. She and husband Adam Ball built the tables, the teacher’s desk and put in the cabinets that top each of eight work stations at the back of the room. Each work station has a sink, running water and gas.

“I remember having those things at our tables when I was in high school,” said Ball, a graduate of Seward High School in Seward, Nebraska. “And you’d have students playing with those things during a lecture. I didn’t want that, so I designed the room to have the work stations in the back.”

The Ball family spent the entire summer putting this room together in addition to designing and constructing a playground area along the south side of the school, an area that’s shaded during morning hours. The Balls (Adam teaches at East Middle School and coaches football at Siouxland Christian) took a break from their normal summer roofing work schedule to complete these projects at Siouxland Christian.

“Adam and I are paying off the kids’

tuition this year by doing this work,” said Michelle.

The Balls’ children, Ethan, Kacy and Bailey, are in seventh grade, fifth grade and third grade, respectively.

Michelle Ball, who stayed home with her children for 10 years, is now in her fourth year of teaching at Siouxland Christian, a non-denominational Christian school for grades preschool through high school. This represents her first teaching position.

“This is 300 times better than being in a portable,” she said with a wide smile. “We had to do something because the school was growing. I remember having 25 in my classroom last year. I had students sitting in chairs in the aisles.”

Her new room, which can seat 30, will likely have normal class sizes of around 15, with room to grow. Besides the space, Ball has all the electronic scales, microscopes and balances she needs to allow each work station to operate independently.

“We won’t be slowing down this year

to take time to VIDEO share equipMichelle Ball shows ment,” she said. a portion of the Each classnew Siouxland room in the new Christian School at school also has an interactive siouxcityjournal.com Promethean board that can show apps students have on their phones. For example, as Ball shows a human skeleton on the board, students may pull up the same site on their phones and following along, moving organs and bones while labeling each.

For an educator with a challenging work load (five different science classes alone: physics, chemistry, anatomy, physical science and health), this is one teacher who cannot wait to dive in to a new school year.

“Students are so excited to get going,” she said just days before the school year commenced. “And I have parents of former students who have stopped by to see our new room and they’ve just smiled and given me a big hug!”

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BACK TO SCHOOL parents’

tools

Kathy Bottaro, director of technology for Sioux City Community Schools, talks about some of the technology and apps the district uses to communicate information about assignments and grades to parents.

s

High-tech tools allow parents to keep tabs on school activities

SIOUX CITY | Gone are the days of waiting for a report card or a parentteacher conference to find out how your elementary, middle or high schooler is doing in their classes.

Four years ago, Infinite Campus, a tool that combines student information, learning management, school notifications and more, debuted in the Sioux City Community School District.

Text by Dolly A. Butz | Photos by Tim Hynds

Infinite Campus was founded in 1993 in an effort to streamline educational processes, promote stakeholder collaboration and personalize learning.

It now serves 7.8 million students in 2,000 school districts across 45 states.

Parents of students enrolled in prekindergarten through 12th-grade, can access information, such as grades and schedules, and also update their

household contact information at any time by logging onto the Infinite Campus parent portal, which can be found on the district’s website, siouxcityschools.org.

“It’s sort of the central nervous system of what students do and how we keep track of it,” said Kathy Bottaro, director of technology for the district.

Six or seven years ago, Bottaro said,

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the district introduced a learning management system called Canvas, which is used at the college level to manage courses, to high school students. The technology, which is now also being used in the district’s middle schools, makes teaching and learning easier by connecting all the digital tools teachers use in one place.

“When we went One-to-One, we really needed a learning management system to house the courses and give a launch pad for students,” Bottaro said.

Through the One-to-One computing initiative, all high school students receive a laptop at the beginning of the year. Devices, such as tablets, are also making their ways into fifth-grade classrooms this school year as part of the Future Ready Initiative.

The district is reaching out to parents about the high-tech tools that are available to them at parent-teacher conferences through newsletters, internal communications and Let’s Talk, a submission feature on its website.

“What we’re really looking at now is helping parents understand the parent portal of both Canvas and Infinite Campus and the data about their student that’s stored there and the power of the real-time access to the data,” Bottaro said.

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“You don’t have to wait for a report card to come home.

You don’t have to wait for a teacher to call you. This is just 24/7 how is my student doing?”

KATHY BOTTARO, director of technology

After creating an account and logging into Canvas via the district’s website or Canvas’ downloadable mobile app, parents can set up notifications, which they receive when their child’s assignments are due and when their child turns in an assignment. They can view the classes their child is taking,

SIOUXLAND LIFE

see due dates for assignments and open PDFs of assignments their child has turned in. Grades appear on Canvas as soon as the teacher enters them.

“You don’t have to wait for a report card to come home. You don’t have to wait for a teacher to call you,” Bottaro said. “This is just 24/7 how is my student doing?”

In the past, Bottaro said, school registrars spent up to two months inputting home addresses, emergency contact numbers and other demographic information parents had filled out on two-sided yellow cards. Last year, she said parents started verifying and updating their phone numbers and addresses in Infinite Campus, which also houses standardized test scores, grades, immunization data and more.

Mandie Mayo, spokesperson for the district, said keeping contact information up-to-date is important because the district uses it to send text messages and make calls about early dismissals and closings.

“It’s incredibly important that they maintain current content in Infinite Campus. They have the access to make those updates themselves. They don’t always have to call the registrar, which is something I’m not sure all parents know,” Mayo said.

Like Canvas, Infinite Campus also has a downloadable app.

In addition to these new tools, some teachers are using their own districtapproved technology to keep parents connected to and informed about their classrooms. ClassDojo is one of them.

The communication app allows teachers, parents and students who use it to share photos, videos and messages through the school day.

“Technology is ever-evolving and you have young teachers coming into the district and invigorating new ideas,” Mayo said. “We have people experiencing multiple apps and each one has served its individual purpose and the next teacher may not see that same value. Ultimately they have to achieve the same goal, but they can teach slightly differently.”

Bottaro said parents and guardians who don’t have computers, smartphones or internet access are welcome to use school computers to log in to Infinite Campus or Canvas.

“I’ve worked with grandmothers and sometimes the students will help.

Almost every building will have an online registration day,” she said. “I think we’re always mindful of people who don’t have access to wi-fi and really try to work around it.”

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ADVICE Medical

Answers

‘DOC, I’VE GOT A QUESTION …’ answers to your medical questions

Why do doctors always want their patients to use fragrance-free lotions? I swear every time I ask about one that’s sold at a cosmetics counter, they recoil and recommend one of those medicinal ones.

Are they really that bad?

For most people, fragrance-containing lotions are no more dangerous than fragrance-free, and will not cause any problems. The problem is that many people have sensitivities to the various products they add to give a certain scent.

Often people do not know they have this sensitivity until they use a lotion with a certain fragrance. These sensitivities can manifest as simple irritation to the skin, causing some redness and itching.

More rarely, they can also cause a larger allergic reaction, which may require medication to treat. If there is a certain fragrance-containing lotion that you are dying to use, I would recommend trying it on a small patch of skin first for a few days to see if you will have a reaction to it. If you are someone who tends to have sensitive skin, however, I would definitely recommend trying to stay with fragrance-free products.

A website talks about using vinegar to lose weight quickly. It said Hollywood stars are using this whenever they have a big event coming up. What does it do?

Does it work?

Honestly, this was something I had never heard of prior to reading your question. A quick Google search leads to several sites proclaiming the numerous health benefits of drinking vinegar (specifically apple cider vinegar, apparently) including weight loss, better diabetic control, killing off harmful bacteria and viruses in your gut, and lowering your blood pressure. The claim is that it can reduce fat storage, increase fat burning, improve blood sugar and insulin response, as well as reduce appetite. Unfortunately, like most things that seem too good to be true, these claims fall squarely into the “likely not true” category. I searched the scientific literature, as well as reviewed some of the source material that folks have based this weight loss claim on. Most studies have been done in animals, which do not necessarily correlate in humans. There have only been a few human trials done, two of which

MEET THE DOC Dr. Chris Wolf is a native of Sioux City and graduate of East High. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Iowa in integrative physiology and medical school at Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine. He is a resident Family Practice physician at Siouxland Medical Education Foundation. He resides in Sioux City with his wife and young daughter. had 12 and 16 participants respectively, which is certainly not a large enough pool to draw any meaningful conclusions. Interestingly, the 16-patient study noted that although patients drinking vinegar seemed to have a lower appetite, researchers noted this was due to the nausea participants had from drinking the vinegar, which certainly doesn’t seem like an ideal way to lose weight.

The most often used study to show any link is a 2009 Japanese study. Again, the participation was only 175 patients, and they define “obesity” different than America does. However, in that study after 12 weeks was only about two to four pounds compared to those taking a placebo, which is far less than you would expect to lose with simple calorie reduction.

There is some evidence that vinegar may help regulate blood glucose levels, which may have a benefit in the diabetic and pre-diabetic populations, however further research needs to be done before making any definitive claims.

So, quick answer: no, there is no evidence that it will make any real difference for weight loss. The only solidly proven way to lose weight is to reduce your calorie intake and increase your calorie expenditure (exercise and daily activity). I like to have patients track what they eat and therefore their calorie intake using smartphone apps like MyFitnessPal. These apps allow you to log what you eat and your exercise. Talk to you doctor further for a more personalized weight loss plan.

Can prescription drugs hurt your liver? What can you do to minimize the damage?

In a word: absolutely. Everything that goes into our body is metabolized and/

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SIOUXLAND LIFE

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45

or processed for removal in one or both of two places: the liver and the kidneys.

That means every prescription drug, over-the-counter medication, alcohol, drugs or supplements must exit the body going through one or both places. One of the biggest medications that can be toxic to the liver is plain over-the-counter acetaminophen (Tylenol). Now, as with all “toxins,” the devil is in the dose.

People with a normal functioning liver can take quite a bit of Tylenol without problem, but even a normal liver should have no more than 4000 mg of Tylenol a day. Something to keep in mind, is that several other medications, including many over-the-counter cough and cold meds, specialty headache meds, sleep meds and some narcotic pain medications include acetaminophen. This amount counts toward the daily limit, so remember to count it.

Most probably know that alcohol is metabolized in the liver, which is why heavy drinkers can have liver damage.

Your doctor will be able to discuss which of your medications go through the liver and which are excreted by the kidneys.

Doctors do keep an eye on your medication list and make sure what we give is not going to cause more problems than the potential benefit. As far as minimizing risk, the biggest thing you can control is not drinking excessive amounts of

alcohol, following all recommendations from your doctor, and not starting any over the counter supplements without first discussing it with your doctor.

My child is entering school this year and I’m worried about him getting sick just by being in that environment. We’ve gotten the necessary shots. But is there anything else that I can do?

Congrats on your child starting school! Your concern over him or her getting sick is certainly understandable.

Luckily, you have already done the most important thing by getting all of his or her vaccinations. The easiest and best ways to reduce transmission and picking up microbes like viruses and bacteria include: frequent hand washing, covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze and avoiding touching your eyes, mouth and nose. We recommend getting your child and everyone in the house their yearly flu shot once season starts (we usually start giving these in October).

If you child is sick, it is best to keep them home to help prevent transmission to other children.

If they have a fever, usually it is best to keep them home until 24 hours after the fever breaks. If she or he is put on an

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antibiotic for a bacterial infection, wait until 24 hours after starting medicine to return to school. Unfortunately, it is likely at some point your child will get sick at school. The best ways to try to limit this is the simple steps like frequent hand washing listed above.

What good is a gall bladder if people can have them removed and not seem to be affected?

You have just asked a great evolutionary question, my friend. First let me explain what the gall bladder does. The gall bladder is a small sac-like organ nestled next to the liver. The liver makes several enzymes that help digest our food, one of which is something called bile. Bile helps to break down fats in our diet. The liver stores bile in the gallbladder. When we eat, especially a meal with a lot of oil or fat, the stomach sends a signal to the gallbladder to squeeze, which dumps bile into our intestine to break down these fats. Occasionally, people’s gall bladders stop working normally.

Gallstones occasionally develop, which are most often made up of cholesterol in the bile. These stones can cause a blockage in the duct connecting the gallbladder to the gut. When this happens and bile cannot get out of the gallbladder, inflammation and infection can occur, which may require having it removed.

Other times, the gallbladder stops pumping normally, which would be another reason to remove it. Some folks have gallstones, but do not have any symptoms, and do not require surgery. Common symptoms that your gallbladder is having issues include pain in the right upper part of your belly, especially after a big or fatty meal. You can also have nausea with the pain. Sometimes a gallstone blocks the duct for a few hours after a meal, then if the stone moves the pain subsides.

For the second part of your question, if someone does have their gallbladder removed, the liver still produces bile, it just has to excrete it into the gut itself.

Some people do have issues with fatty meals after surgery, including mild pain or diarrhea. Some have more loose stools than they did prior to surgery due to increased fat content in the stool. So while it isn’t essential, it does help some with fat digestion. We certainly recommend holding onto yours unless it give you trouble!

WHAT KINDS OF HEALTH QUESTIONS DO YOU HAVE? Submit your questions and they may be used in this monthly feature. Write to Siouxland Life at 515 Pavonia St., Sioux City, Iowa 51102.

PARTING SHOT By

Bruce Miller

THE JOYS OF

GETTING OLDER

i

I have always thrilled at the idea of a senior discount. Never mind that you’re basically getting back the money you spent on tax. It’s something.

When someone questions if I’m old enough to merit the discount, it’s even better.

Ten percent here, a free drink there and before you know it, you’re openly asking for discounts on everything and shopping on days when they all but park a scooter at the front door to help you around.

Consider them the spoils of being wiser, but not being regarded as old. It’s one thing to be respected like Yoda. It’s quite another to look like him.

Recently, I had a not-that-much-younger man tell me it made him smile to know that I was still around. Was that a compliment?

Or a confession that he didn’t think I’d make it to qualify for AARP? To be honest, age didn’t bother me until I turned 50 and my mother said, “God, you’re old.” Until then, I always felt the ceiling wasn’t that close. Now, I can practically feel the fan.

I know I don’t have the physical strength (ha!) I used to, but I’m more efficient. If I’m going in the kitchen to, say, get a snack, I’ll also grab a drink so I don’t have to make two trips. Smart, right?

Also, I keep pens near my big chair – in case I need to do puzzles – and always have an egg timer at the ready, just in case I need to take a quick 10-minute nap.

Age hits in mysterious places. As long as you don’t look in the mirror or mind that you don’t fit those clothes you wore 10 years earlier, you’re still a kid. It strikes your knees – particularly when you bend down and try to get back up. It hits home when you’re in the shower and you’re convinced you should have installed grab bars.

It also rears up at night when you get up two or three times just to go to the bathroom.

And, it’s there at the door when you forget where it was you were headed.

Doctors get a little snarky about the ravages of time and they’re constantly trying to tell you to cut back on the very things that keep you going.

When my grandmother was told she should watch her sugar intake, she grabbed a watermelon pickle and said, “If I die, at least I’ll die happy.”

I thought she had the right attitude. It’s coming. It’s just how we approach it.

Too often, seniors get a bad rap because they’re cranky and demanding. Children are, too.

Who says one gets the right and the other doesn’t?

I believe we should approach those not-so-golden years as if we were millennials with decent bank accounts. I want it.

I get it. Simple.

When my parents passed their 50th wedding anniversary and started considered downsizing, they had the perfect take on life. Appreciate the advantages of aging; ignore the ravages.

They golfed and gambled, went on short trips and ate out three times a week. They got dressed up for no good reason and did all the things that made them happy. They stayed abreast of current events and talked with teenagers about the latest music.

When they retired, they didn’t unplug, they stayed plugged in.

That’s how it should be. We shouldn’t withdraw from life, we should drink it in.

And if it comes with a 10 percent discount, even better.

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More than $13,000 will be up for grabs on Friday, September 29 when we select 26 guests throughout the evening for a chance to play Blackjack Blitz. Every 15 minutes from 6:00pm to 10:00pm, two guests whose names are randomly drawn from our E-drawing system will square off for a hand of blackjack at the front of the casino. The holder of the best hand wins $500 in cash. Hit a blackjack, and you will take home an easy $1,000 cash prize. The other challenger will receive $100 in Free Play as a consolation gift. Collect one free drawing entry every time you visit. Plus, earn additional entries at the kiosks for your slots play to increase your chances of winning.

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