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Education breaking news throughout the day | www.times-herald.com

Sunday, July 24, 2016 | The Newnan Times-Herald — 1C

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NEW K-5 SCHOOL

Talented Tenth Christian Academy prepares to launch at St. Smyrna

By REBECCA LEFTWICH becky@newnan.com All summer, St. Smyrna Baptist Church has been filled with the sounds of children singing, praying and learning as they participated in summer camp.

Not much will change in August, when 40 students begin regular full-time school at the newly established Talented Tenth Christian Academy, which will be housed at the church.

“Talented Tenth” is a principle introduced by activist and scholar W.E.B. DuBois in which, according to St. Smy rna pastor Ta ma rk us Cook, “There is a talented 10th percentile, and within that percentile they possess everything they need to lead the other 90 percent.”

But at Talented Tenth Academy, the aim is not to identify a talented percentile. Instead, Cook said, “We want to identify the talent within each child and work on that internal gift development. That’s what is unique and makes the program viable.”

Nor is the aim to take away from Coweta County public schools, where Cook’s own

5-year-old son was a student last year.

“My son never struggled in public school, and Coweta public education didn’t fail him,” Cook said. “We’re not here to compete with anyone.

In fact, we’re here to serve the Coweta County School System by sending them back in middle school, better prepared to be leaders and good students.”

Wit h a sum mer ca mp enrollment of 30, the church was able to roll out some of its components in advance – including one hour of personal tutoring per day. Each camper was required to present his or her school progress report so that staff could pinpoint areas in which the child was struggling. Instructors then gave specific attention to those areas, which is an element that will be standard as the Talented Tenth Academy is established.

Foundational elements of the school’s curriculum will be the Bible and the Georgia Standards of Excellence, along with life skills, character education and servicebased projects. In addition, STEAM-based and integra-

PHOTOS BY REBECCA LEFTWICH

Annette Johnson, left, looks over information about the Talented Tenth Christian Academy with Rev. Tamarkus Cook, pastor of St. Smyrna Baptist Church. Johnson will serve as director of the school, which opens next month.

tive learning will be implemented and music, theatre, dance, technology, financial literacy and world language components will be offered.

Five classrooms, a computer lab and plenty of space for school activities has been established with more renovations planned. All work should be complete by the end of 2016 and with the full support of the St. Smyrna congregation – even those whose offices were created from former closets and storage spaces to make room for classes to meet in the larger spaces.

“There has been no opposition whatsoever, which is unheard of,” said Cook, who added that the pastor who

built the church – Pastor J.W. Russell – had a vision to incorporate a school from the beginning. “It’s a mergence of vision and hard work.”

Pla ns were accelerated when St. Smyrna had the opportunity to merge with Spirit of Excellence Christian School, which operated out of a building on 1st Street in Newnan but closed its doors at the end of the 2015-16 school year. St. Smyrna brought in consultants to help bring Talented Tenth into compliance, working with Bright From the Start and the state officials to meet all requirements, according to Cook.

Other partnerships have

LAUNCH, page 4C

Artwork from the church’s summer camp, which is incorporating several of the components planned for Talented Tenth Academy, adorns the walls of St. Smyrna.

Coweta schools to issue 17,100 Chromebooks

By CELIA SHORTT celia@newnan.com

The 2016-2017 Coweta County School System will feature new tech nolog y by issu i ng Google Chromebooks to the majority of its student body.

“The system has purchased 17,100 Chromebook devices, which will bring our schools to 1-to-1 in all grades three through 12,” said Dean Jackson, public information officer for the school system. “That is an exciting step for our schools and students.”

The school system currently has Chromebooks in use for approximately 10 percent of the students, and once the new ones are issued, those Chromebooks will be available for students in Kindergarten

through second grade to use.

“The Chromebook devices will be issued beginning in early to midAugust, likely possibly within about a week of school starting,” added Jackson. “The devices will be issued in middle schools first, followed by all elementary schools and then high schools. All students grades three and up should have a device by early September.”

The devices cost $279.42 each for a total cost of $4.7 million. This amount is within the budgeted amount that was approved in the Three-Year Technology Plan. The school board approved the purchase at its meeting in May. “The system's Instructional Technology staff and Director Jason Olvey have done a tremendous job

in getting us to this point,” added Jackson. “Through our school system's technology plan, they have laid the groundwork by upgrading our schools' wireless connectivity and overall capacity to allow for much more robust environment for these devices, and moved us to a Google environment, which gives teachers and students a common platform and a broad set of learning tools.”

The school system also has a system in place to protect the Chromebooks once they are issued to the students.

One way is that the Chromebooks will be integrated into the school system’s Google environment and

CHROMEBOOKS, page 4C

This school year in the Coweta County School System, Chromebooks will be available for students in Kindergarten through second grade to use.

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2C — The Newnan Times-Herald | Sunday, July 24, 2016

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Sunday, July 24, 2016 | The Newnan Times-Herald — 3C

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4C — The Newnan Times-Herald | Sunday, July 24, 2016

Back to school: Dual enrollment

By CELIA SHORTT celia@newnan.com

With the growth of dual en rollment, more h igh school students in Coweta Cou nt y a re ea r n i ng college credit before graduation through Move on When Ready.

T h e G e o r g i a D e p a r tment of Education recently re-titled dual enrollment as Move on When Ready, and the Georgia General Assembly passed Senate Bill 132 which opened it to more students and reduced their costs.

Move on W hen Re ady allows freshman through s en ior s t udent s i n h i g h school to attend a postsecondary institution and earn h ig h school a nd col lege credit at the same time. With Senate Bill 132, students also don’t have to pay tuition or fees for the college credit at

participating schools.

Both West Georgia Technical College and the University of West Georgia have campuses in Coweta County and offer dual enrollment classes.

According to Dr. Bob Heaberlin of the University of West Georgia, the school currently has more than 700 students enrolled in Move on When Ready for the 2016 fall semester. Approximately 120 of them will be enrolled at the Newnan campus.

Heaberlin said he expects those numbers to increase.

For the 2015-2016 school year, UWG had 143 different students enrolled in the program who averaged ten credit hours per semester.

We st G e or g i a Te c h n ical College had 1,110 Move on W hen Ready students e n r ol le d i n 2 0 1 5 -2 0 1 5 , a c c ord i n g to m a rke t i n g

Rev. Tamarkus Cook discusses plans for further renovations at St. Smyrna, which will house the new school.

LAUNCH

Continued from page 1C

PHOTO BY REBECCA LEFTWICH

Dr. Bob Heaberlin, left, and University of West Georgia President Kyle Marrero, right, show Newnan Times-Herald publisher Walter Jones around the UWG Newnan Campus.

coordinator Ben Chambers. County – 206 at the Central Of t hose st udents , 35 3 Educational Center site and were en rolled in Coweta 147 at the Coweta Campus.

Coweta schools orientation Aug. 4 Coweta County School System parents and students will be able to visit schools and meet teachers on Thursday, Aug. 4, before the start of the new school year.

School Orientation will be held separately for Coweta’s middle, elementary and high schools according to the following schedule:

ences during Orientation.

While many schools will hold add it ion a l back-to school f u nc t ion s (check school websites for more i n f o r m a t i o n a t w w w.

cowet a school s . net ), a l l schools will hold student orientation at these times on Thursday.

Representatives from the school system’s transportation department will be available at all schools during the Aug. 4 orientation, and on the first day of school on Aug. 5 to provide information about bus schedules.

School bus routes for the new school year will also be posted on the school system’s website before the start of school as well as on the Newnan Times-Herald website at www.times-herald. com .

nently etched with serial numbers and “property of” engraving, and accidental damage protection insurance will be provided.

From a practical standpoi nt, t he Ch romebooks will help the school system leverage mu lt iple

tex tbook s , teachers a nd educators will be able to dow n load educationa l materials, including textbooks, and the school system is hopeful they will cut textbook costs by having them provided to students electronically.

Middle Schools: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. (all middle schools) E lementa r y School s: ents and students an oppor12:00-2:00 p.m. (all elementunity to find their classtary schools). rooms a nd meet their High Schools: 2:00-4:00 teachers before the start of p.m. (all high schools) school. Teachers will not be Orientation provides par- available for formal confer-

CHROMEBOOKS Continued from page 1C

will only be able to be used by someone with student or employe e lo g i n c re dent i a l s . S e c u r it y s of t-

ware will also be installed to help provide tracking information if the device is lost or stolen.

In addition, student use agreements will need to be sig ned before t he Chromebooks are issued, the devices will be perma-

been established as well. A robotics program sponsored by 100 Black Men of Atlanta will be implemented at the school, and students’ physical health will be bolstered by access to breakfast and lunch buffets created by Chef Anthony Ross, whose intentional approach to child nutrition has been honed by years of cooking for more than 800 children a day at Arlington Christian School. “ Brea k fa st i s t he most important meal of the day, and kids need that energy to get ready to learn,” said Ross, who prepares a variety of foods for his buffets that include ethnic choices and

plenty of fruit and vegetables.

“I try to give them a lot of different choices so that they’re more likely to try new foods, and like them.”

Students will wear uniforms, and eventually, Cook says, the school hopefully will be able provide some scholarships and tuition easements that will allow easier access to Talented Tenth for a wider range of children.

“We accept CAPS (Childcare and Parent Services), and our ultimate goal is 50 percent full tuition and 50 percent on some type of scholarship,” he said. “They will look the same, have the same inherent talents and the same opportunities and they will get the same attention.”

For now, though, “We’re just praying every day to get ready,” Cook said.

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6C — The Newnan Times-Herald | Sunday, July 24, 2016

Registration open for Coweta schools With the new school year beginning Friday, Aug. 5, parents of students who will be new the Coweta County School System are urged to register their students at the school system’s Central Registration Center.

The Center – located at 1​67 Werz Industrial Boulevard in Newnan (770-254-5551) – is enrolling students for all grades throughout the summer.

All registrations are on a walk-in basis.

Through July 22, office hours are MondayThursday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Starting July 25, office hours will return to Monday thru Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Parents whose children are new to Coweta schools next year are urged to enroll early to avoid long lines in the days before school starts.

Enrolling a child for school is a three-step process: Step 1: Complete an online pre-registration form, which can be found on the school system’s website at www.cowetaschools.net .

Online pre-registration may be completed at home, or at kiosks available at the Werz Industrial Drive office.

Step 2: Gather the required registration documents for your child’s appointment (see below, or call the center at 770-254-5551 for more information).

Step 3: Visit the Center at 167 Werz Industrial Boulevard (rear entrance). Documentation required for registration includes: 1. Birth Certificate (for the student being enrolled) – A state-issued, certified copy

Coweta County School System parents and students will be able to visit schools and meet teachers on Thursday, Aug. 4, before the start of the new school year.

School Orientation will be held separately for Coweta’s middle, elementary and high schools according to the following schedule:

e. Voter precinct identification card or other voter documentation indicating the current address.

4. State ID or Driver’s License – Must be current (not expired). Students may only be registered by a biological parent or legal guardian. Proof of custody or guardianship is required if the registering adult is not the birth parent.

5. Immunization Certificate – Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) immunization certificate form 3231 or a signed 30-day waiver. For students new to Georgia, a 90-day waiver can be issued at the time of student registration.​ 6. Hearing-Dental-Vision-Nutritional Certificate on Georgia Form 3300 or a signed 90-day waiver.

PHOTO COURTESY COWETA SCHOOLS

The Coweta County School System’s Central Registration Center is registering students throughout the summer before the start of school on Friday, Aug. 5.

is required (hospital certificates are not accepted).

2. Social Security Card (for the student being enrolled) 3. Proof of Residence – two (2) items from the following list are required for address verification: a. Mortgage documents or a security deed which indicates the location of the

residence; b. Apartment or home lease or rent receipt indicating the current address; c. Current electrical bill or an approved application for electrical service showing the current address (please bring the entire bill to show electrical service and address); d. Property tax records which indicate the location of the residence;

Immunization and Hearing-Dental-Vision certificates can be obtained from the Coweta County Health Department (770-254-7400), or from a family physician. Short-term waivers issued to students new to Georgia during registration will allow parents time to obtain the certificates, but students may be withdrawn if the certificates are not filed by the end of the waiver period.

Students already enrolled in a Coweta County School System Pre-Kindergarten class during the 2016-17 school year do not need to register again to enter Kindergarten.

Students must attend the school for which their home is districted. To find out what elementary school district serves an address, call the Coweta County School System Transportation Department at 770-254-2820.

Coweta schools orientation Aug. 4 Middle Schools: 10 a.m. to 12 Orientation provides parents p.m. (all middle schools) and students an opportunity to Elementary Schools: 1 2:00 - f ind their classrooms and meet 2: 0 0 p. m . (a l l element a r y their teachers before the start of school. Teachers will not be availschools). able for formal conferences during High Schools: 2:00-4:00 p.m. Orientation. (all high schools) While many schools will hold additional back-to-school func-

t ion s (c he c k s c ho ol we b site s for more information at w w w. cowetaschools.net ), all schools will hold student orientation at these times on Thursday.

Representatives from the school system’s transportation department will be available at all schools during the Aug. 4 orientation, and

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on the first day of school on Aug. 5 to provide information about bus schedules.

School bus routes for the new school year will also be posted on the school system’s website before the start of school as well as on the Newnan Times-Herald website at www.times-herald.com.

Sunday, July 24, 2016 | The Newnan Times-Herald — 7C

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8C — The Newnan Times-Herald | Sunday, July 24, 2016

Pre-registration for After-School Program Aug. 4-5 STAFF REPORTS education@newnan.com

Georgia’s sales tax holiday hits stores July 30

By MICHAEL RUPURED UGA Extension The 2016 Georgia back-to-school sales tax holiday starts at midnight on Friday, July 30, and ends at midnight on Saturday, July 31. Certain purchases made over the tax holiday weekend will be exempt from state and local sales tax.

Three types of goods are exempt from sales tax during the tax-free holiday: clothing and footwear; computers, computer components and software; and school supplies.

Clot h i n g a nd fo ot we a r a re exempt from sales tax as long as the item costs $100 or less. Jewelry, watches or watchbands, eyewear, handbags, belt buckles — those sold separately from belts — and selected other items are not exempt from sales tax.

Computers, computer components and prewritten computer software purchased for noncommercial home or personal use are exempt if the purchase price is

$1,000 or less per item. In previous years, the $1,000 limit applied to transactions rather than individual items.

School supplies, art supplies, computer supplies a nd school instructional materials with a sales price of $20 or less per item that are purchased for noncommercial use are exempt from the sales tax during the sales tax holiday.

Saving 6 or 7 percent on purchases adds up. Most retailers offer big sales to attract more business.

The following tips may help you save time, money and frustration during one of the biggest shopping weekends of the year.

Know what is not exempt. You will still pay sales tax on belt buckles sold separately; costume masks sold separately; patches and emblems sold separately; sewing equipment and supplies, including but not limited to knitting needles, patterns, pins, scissors, sewing machines, sewing needles,

tape measures and thimbles; sewing materials that become part of clothing, including but not limited to buttons, fabric, lace, thread, yarn and zippers; clothing accessories or equipment; and cellular telephones.

A full list of exempt items is available here: dor.georgia.gov/pressreleases/2016-04-27/2016-sales-taxholidays.

Check advertisements and fliers for sales. Look for coupons for items you plan to buy. For computer purchases, gather information about features and options and compare prices from different stores.

Shop with a list. Write down what each child needs as far as clothing and school supplies.

Leave the kids at home. If you need to bring a child along to try on clothing, consider two trips. Go out by yourself to purchase school supplies and/or computers and accessories. While you are out, make note of any particularly good clothing sales and return to those

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stores later in the weekend with the children.

Avoid using credit. Unless you pay the balance in full with each statement, the interest you pay on a credit card balance can offset any savings. To avoid temptation, leave your credit cards at home.

Check online. Many online retailers participate in the sales tax holiday weekend. Make sure shipping and handling charges do not offset the tax savings on your purchase.

Finally, bring along plenty of patience and a positive attitude.

The stores, parking lots and roads around shopping centers are going to be busy and crowded. Checkout lines will be long. If you do not enjoy shopping, the sales tax holiday weekend might be a good time to stay at home.

(Michael Rupured is a financial specialist with University of Georgia Cooperative Extension.)

The Coweta County elementary school After-School Program is a fee-based, space-available program offered to pre-K through fifth grade students at all 19 of Coweta’s elementary schools.

The After-School Program (ASP) will be available in each district school to assist with reg i st rat ion for t he 2016 -17 school year and to answer questions on Thursday, Aug. 4 at all elementary schools from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ASP Site Coordinators will also be available on the first day of school on Friday, Aug. 5.

The ASP registration fee is $20, and must be received with a completed enrollment form.

Tuition for the ASP is $12 per day. However, tuition payments made by Friday prior to the week of attendance are only $9 per day reserved. The parent or guardian registering a child for the ASP will be responsible for all payments.

T he elementa r y-age A f ter School Program operates from 2:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on-site at each elementary school on days schools are in session. The program provides students with a safe after-school environment offering afternoon activities and snacks.

For more information, visit www.cowetaschools.net or call 770-252-7016.

Sunday, July 24, 2016 | The Newnan Times-Herald — 9C

Bento box lunches a fun way to try new foods

By MERRITT MELANCON University of Georgia For generations of students, the sandwich has been the center of the sack lunch universe. But today some parents are borrowing lunch ideas from other cultures in an effort to boost variety in their children’s diets.

Bento boxes, which, until recently, were used primarily

by Japanese schoolchildren, have become increasingly popular in the United States.

What separates a bento box from a traditional lunchbox is a series of compartments that hold separate servings of protein, rice, vegetables or fruit.

B ento lu nches a re a lso known for being cute. The internet is full of bento photos featuring rice mounds painstakingly pressed into the shape of dolphins, and flowers made out of ham slices.

Will that effort entice children to try new things? Possibly, said University of Georgia Cooperative Extension health and nutrition specialist Alison Berg. But she adds that you don’t have to make every lunch an arts and crafts project to give bento boxes a try.

“I think it’s a good option in terms of exposing kids to a larger variety in a way that is developmentally appropriate,” said Berg, who is also an assistant professor of foods and nutrition in the UGA College of Family and Consumer Sciences. “Finger foods are great for that because kids f ind them less intimidating.”

Bento box lunches usually contain portions of bite-sized pieces of vegetables and fruit, pieces of meat or tea-sized sandwiches and crackers.

The key to keeping what is basically a collection of snacks healthy is the ratio. The boxes

PHOTO COURTESY OF ANOTHERLUNCH.COM

Bento boxes, which, until recently, were used primarily by Japanese schoolchildren, have become increasingly popular in the United States. What separates a bento box from a traditional lunchbox is a series of compartments that hold separate servings of protein, rice, vegetables or fruit. should have four parts healthy carbohydrates, like whole wheat crackers or molded brown rice; two parts protein, like cheese, lean meats (think turkey, low-fat ham or chicken breast) or chickpeas; one part fruits, like sliced apples; and one part vegetables, like carrot sticks.

The U.S. Department of

Agriculture’s ChooseMyPlate. gov website has a detailed background on recommended portion sizes for kids of all ages and has some great suggestions for new lunchbox favorites.

Unless the lunchbox can be kept cool in a refrigerator or with an ice pack, it’s important to pack food that will be safe

to eat at room temperature.

One of the key concepts that parents need to remember when introducing new foods into a child’s lunchbox — like swapping those carrot sticks for cauliflower florets — is to keep offering them and to keep some old standbys in there. A bento box full of new foods might result in a hungry

kid, but consistently offering one or two new items a day will eventually broaden children’s palates.

“K ids might need 20 to 30 exposures to a new food before they will truly accept it.

Offering foods in a way that’s fun and easy for them, like finger foods in a bento box, might help speed up the process, and

that’s good for kids and their parents,” Berg said.

For more information about helping your child to become a more adventurous eater and making better food choices at any age, visit eatright.org .

(Merritt Melancon is a news editor with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.)

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10C — The Newnan Times-Herald | Sunday, July 24, 2016

© 2016 by Vicki Whiting, Editor Jeff Schinkel, Graphics Vol. 32, No. 33

While the 2016 Olympics are called the Summer Games, it is actually winter in Brazil where the games are being held.

Most of Brazil is located south of the equator. Because the earth rotates around the sun on a small tilt, seasons are different north and south of the equator.

Brazilian Winter: Tilted away from the sun the sun, but because where it is summer, the planet is tilted towards the sun.

Brazilian Summer: Tilted toward the sun

Macaws, a kind of parrot, live in the Amazonian rainforest.

Their big, strong beaks can crack open the hard Brazil nut.

Can you find the answer to all of these questions? (Hint–they can all be found on today’s Kid Scoop page!) Have a parent check your answers.

In Brazil, June, July and August are the winter months, while summer is in December, January and February.

Summer is the warmest time of the year. Not because the planet is closer to

1. It is summer in Brazil during the 2016 Olympics.

TRUE

FALSE

The land around the Amazon and its tributaries make up the largest rainforest in the world. Like its name says, it rains a lot there.

2. Most of Brazil is located south of the _________________ .

The western Amazon region gets about 160 inches (400 cm) per year. Add up the numbers on this tree to find out how much New York City gets on average.

3. The largest rainforest in the world is found along the _____________ River.

4. New York City gets an average of _____ inches of rain a year.

inches (107 cm)

Amazonian Indians were the first people to make rubber. They found a tree in the rainforest with a white sap that could be used as an insect repellent and they made their feather robes waterproof.

The Indians learned that when heated over a fire, the sap thickened to make rubber. They used this rubber to make shoes and balls.

25% of the world’s medicine comes from the rainforest!

Brazil’s forests have millions of insects. The leaf-cutter ants cut cu leaves into tiny pieces and carry them back to their underground colonies. There they chew the leaves into a mush that they feed to a fungus that they then eat.

Unscramble the letters on the leaves to discover the name of a rainforest snake that can grow up to 40 feet (12m) long.

The green on Brazil’s flag stands for its forests and fields. Yellow is for the country’s rich deposits of gold. The blue circle represents the night sky and its twenty-seven stars are for Brazil’s 26 states.

The stars are arranged in the constellations that were visible the day Brazil became independent from Portugal. The phrase ORDEM E PROGRESSO is also on the Brazilian flag.

TODRBDNEKRLATNVDQPTRJOWGHRLERSMS Standards Link: Reading Comprehension: Follow simple written directions.

Describe Brazil

After reading today’s Kid Scoop page, look through the newspaper for five or more adjectives that describe Brazil. Cut them out, paste them on a piece of construction paper you have cut into the shape of Brazil.

Caring, Teaching, Reaching Standards Link: Language Arts: Identify adjectives.

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6. As the earth rotates around the sun, it _________ towards and away from the sun.

7. Amazonian Indians were the first people to make ____________.

Look through the newspaper for signs of summer. Cut them out and make a “Summer Where I Live” poster.

Standards Link: Research: Use the newspaper to locate information.

WATERPROOF OLYMPICS EQUATOR WINTER PLANET BRAZIL TILTED FUNGUS RUBBER AMAZON LEAVES SHOES RAINS FIRE SAP

5. The Amazon Rainforest gets an average of ____ cm of rain in a year.

8. The yellow on the Brazilian flag represents this metal which can be found there. ______ 9. How many states are in the country of Brazil? ____ 10. Rubber is made from the ______ of a ______.

Standards Link: Reading Comprehension: Identify answers from text.

E W A D E T L I T R

M Q W P I

I N W S T

A R U L Z E I R C F

M U R A I N S S I S

This week’s word:

TRIBUTARY

Z B G E P O E A M G

The noun tributary means a stream flowing into a larger river.

N R S S E V A E L U

The Amazon River basin has about 15,000 tributaries.

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Sunday, July 24, 2016 | The Newnan Times-Herald — 11C

Consistent schedule vital to children's health

By CLINT THOMPSON University of Georgia Once the school year starts, developing and keeping a consistent schedule is vital to children’s health and well-being, says Dia ne Ba les, a child development specialist with University of Georgia Cooperative Extension.

As summer winds down and preparations for the upcoming school year begin, Bales recommends that parents establish a routine. A routine provides security for children and helps reduce the stress of the new school year.

“The younger the children are, the more they rely on that security to know what to

expect in their day and in their life,” said Bales, an associate professor in the UGA College of Family and Consumer Science. “Setting up that routine and practicing the steps reduces anxiety on the first day of school and helps make the transition from summer to school much smoother.”

T he most cha llenging change in schedule from summer to the school year comes at bedtime. During the summer, parents may be more relaxed about their children’s bedtime, knowing that the children don’t have to get up early the next day. Bales suggests that parents start establishing an earlier bedtime at least a week before school

starts; changing that bedtime overnight is unlikely to produce positive results.

“If your children have been going to bed at 9 and they need to go to bed at 7 or 7:30 to get enough sleep for school, they won't easily fall asleep when you put them to bed at 7:30 right away. Moving bedtime back 15 minutes every night for a week is going to be more effective,” Bales said. “It gets you closer to actually having them on the schedule that you want them to have.”

Bales also points to the importance of getting children to wind down before they go to bed. Activities that stimulate the mind — like watching TV or using an electronic

device — may prevent them a more peaceful morning for from sleeping when they’re the children and for parents to get ready in a timely manner. supposed to, says Bales.

(Clint Thompson is a news “Maybe take a bath, brush your teeth or read a book. Just have some quiet, settled-down time,” Bales said. “It doesn’t mean that they’re never going to resist and never going to be unhappy when it’s time to go to bed, but be consistent. Over time, it really does give them that security.”

Parents are also encouraged to prepare the night before the start of school in order to make the first morning of school easier. Lay out clothes ahead of time. Make lunch the night before. Put essentials like books or bookbags in designated places. This allows for

Robert L. Whipple, IV, MD

Public comment invited on proposed school policy The Coweta County Board of Education has placed several policies on the table for 30 days for public comment.

The proposed policy changes can be found on the school system's eBOARDsolutions site on the Coweta County School System homepage (go to the Board of Education tab at the cowetas-

chools.net main page and select "Board Policy Manual" or follow the direct link, above).

Proposed policies are linked by name and policy code on the right side of the eBOARDsolution page. Members of the public can select individual policies or regulations to review. The text in each shows proposed changes, and comment

sections are provided at the bottom of each page.

The policy changes were reviewed at the school board’s July 12 regular meeting, and were tabled for public review before final action. The Board of Education welcomes public comment on the proposals.

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12C — The Newnan Times-Herald | Sunday, July 24, 2016

Pick healthy options for back to school lunches

By SUSAN MOORE UGA Extension

A re you worried about packing a healthy lunch for your kids this school year? If so, you are not alone; lots of parents struggle to provide nutritious foods that their kids will actually enjoy eating every day for lunch.

Don’t get stressed out. With a little planning and some tips from University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, you can avoid that morning panic and pack lunches that are healthy and delicious.

First, stock your kitchen with the necessary ingredients for a healthy lunch so you won’t be scrambling to find foods at the last minute.

Be sure to stock up on sandwich bags, snack bags, plastic utensils and freezer packs to keep foods and beverages cool.

Usi ng t he U. S. Depa r tment of Agriculture’s MyPlate guidelines at ChooseMyPlate. gov, make a list of convenient and healthy food items that can be purchased once a week. Include at least three of the five food groups – fruits, vegetables, grains, protein and dairy – in your child’s lunch daily.

Adding fruits and vegetables to the mix can be easy and delicious. Choose whole fruits like a banana or an orange, or buy individual serving containers for fruits like applesauce, peaches or pineapples. Check the label on individual cans or containers of fruit to ensure it’s packed in its own juice or water and that no extra sugar

When planning packed lunches for the school week, consider including your child in the decision-making process. If your child will be assisting in preparing lunch, be sure to remind him to wash his hands before preparing — and before eating.

has been added.

Raw vegetables are also easy to pack; for example, pack baby carrots with a lowfat salad dressing or hummus to use for a dip.

To encourage your child to eat more whole grains, make s a ndw ic he s w it h whole grain or whole-wheat bread.

Remember that brown bread isn’t necessarily whole-grain.

Read the nutrition facts label carefully to ensure that the bread is high in dietary fiber and that the first ingredient listed is whole wheat.

Another fun way to add whole grain to your child’s diet is to include a small bag of whole-grain cereal instead of a bag of chips. If your child still wants chips, pick wholegrain or baked chips.

When deciding on a drink, avoid juices that have sugar or sweeteners listed as their first ingredient. Many juices are really only 10 or 20 percent juice and have a lot of added sugar. Check the label well and make sure any juice you buy is 100 percent fruit or vegetable juice. Water is

always a good option. Avoid soft drinks and other beverages that are high in sugar and have little to no nutritional value.

Try to add low-fat dairy or calcium-rich foods to your child’s lunch as often as possible. Some 85 to 95 percent of adult bone mass is acquired by the age of 18 in girls and by the age of 20 in boys, so it is very important that they consume an adequate amount of calcium while they are young.

The best options for calciumrich foods include dairy prod-

ucts like low-fat milk, yogurt, sliced cheese or string cheese.

Include your child in the decision-making process. Let your child choose what kind of lunch container he or she will carry, depending on her age. This can vary from a lunchbox to a thermal, insulated bag. Children are more likely to eat their lunch if they help decide what to pack. Just be sure to give your child a list of healthy options.

Be sure to practice food safety. Keep cold foods cold by including an ice pack, gel

pack or frozen water bottle.

Avoid cross-contamination.

Don’t reuse paper or plastic bags, food wraps or aluminum foil. Tell your child to throw these items away after eating lunch. Remind your child to always wash his or her hands before eating lunch.

For more information about making better food choices, visit ChooseMyPlate.gov .

(Susan Moore is the family and consumer sciences agent with University of Georgia Cooperative Extension in Laurens County.)

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Sunday, July 24, 2016 | The Newnan Times-Herald — 13C

School gardens on the rise as teachers use them to teach STEM education

By SHARON DOWDY University of Georgia, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Planting gardens at schools is not a new concept. The school garden movement first took off in 1917 when the U.S. School Garden Army was created with the motto, “A garden for every child, every child in a garden.”

As of late, school gardens have experienced resurgence.

A growing number of teachers are embracing school gardens to teach students much more than how to put a seed in the ground, care for it, watch it grow and enjoy the harvest provided by the plant.

Beck y Gri ff i n , com munity and school garden coordinator for University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, says school gardens are gaining momentum for several reasons, including science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education requirements.

“Schools can get a feather in their cap for using their school garden to meet the STEM certification,” Griffin said. “Teachers use their gardens to teach history by growing beans that (Meriwether) Lewis and (William) Clark brought back from their expedition, and they plant colonial gardens filled with crops from the time of George Washington. They also use school gardens to teach math.

You use lots of division and recording to plant a garden.

Some teachers have the students grow their crops in geometric shapes.”

English teachers use school

gardens by reading a book, then planting crops or flowers that were mentioned in the book, Griffin said.

School ga rden s a re a n excellent educational tool, but they are also hard work.

I n Coweta Cou nt y, Gr i ffin was called in to consult on a potential school garden before the soil was tilled and the seeds were planted.

“First, the school administration needs to be on board, then the teachers, the parents and community leaders,” she said. “If the garden is being planned and planted by just one teacher, it’s going to fail. In the summer and during breaks from school, you need volunteers to help weed and water and care for the garden.”

To help Georgia teachers grow gardens and successfully use them as teaching tools, UGA Extension and the UGA Center for Urban Agriculture offer school garden teacher training. In the summer of 2015, 60 teachers from 24 Georgia counties were trained at workshops in Athens, Atlanta and Griffin, Georgia. They learned about crops that are in season during the school year, how to test garden soil before planting and how to control pests using as little pesticide as possible.

For more information on this program, visit ugaurbanag.com/gardens/teachertraining .

(Sharon Dowdy is a news editor with the University of Georgia College of Agricult u ra l a n d Environ m e n ta l Sciences.)

PHOTO BY MERRITT MELANCON

UGA Extension community and school garden coordinator Becky Griffin speaks to a group of teachers at a school garden curriculum training at UGArden in Athens.

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14C — The Newnan Times-Herald | Sunday, July 24, 2016

FIND MORE back-to-school info from The Newnan Times-Herald Sunday in Education, page 1c and online at www.times-herald.com.

Cyber bullying on the rise

By CLINT THOMPSON University of Georgia B u l ly i n g i s n o lon ge r solely an in-person issue.

T he problem ha s moved online, and it has University of Georgia Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development specialist Cheryl Varnadoe concerned, especially given that the start of the new school year is just a few weeks away.

With access to the internet at children’s fingertips via their phone, tablet or personal computer, cyberbullying, sometimes by an anonymous bully, is on the rise.

“I think bullying is more p r e v a l e n t n ow b e c a u s e kids can do it much more easily than in years past.

With technology, kids can bully anonymously — that’s what’s scary,” said Varnadoe, who has worked with children of all ages during her 32 years in UGA Extension. “Sometimes the ones being bullied don’t know w h o ’s a t t a c k i n g t h e m .

Un for tunately, t here a re many phone and web apps now — like Secret, Whisper and Yik Yak — that can enable the bullying of people anonymously.”

Part of Varnadoe’s role with UGA Extension has involved developing workshops on bullying prevention at the state and national levels. She educates 4 -H Yout h Development a nd Family and Consumer Sciences Extension agents and students about the dangers of bullying and what to do to prevent it.

“We need to realize that

wherever kids are, they may bully. We also need to realize what bullying is a nd what it’s not, take preventative steps to ensure that it doesn’t happen and also make sure the kids know what bullying is and why it’s important not to act that way,” Varnadoe said.

Varnadoe said “bullying” involves repeated aggression by a n i ndividua l or group toward someone else.

The aggressors don’t know when to stop and continuously pursue t he person being bullied, whether in person or online.

She added that kids today are more aware of bullying and what it involves, which has made youth today more sensitive to what bullying is and how they can help those being bullied. Not all children react the same to what some consider simple teasing, Varnadoe said.

“Kids tend to pick on each other. They need to realize, though, when they’ve gone too far. Traditional teasing — and there’s going to be a lot of that amongst kids and amongst friends — can go too far, and kids need to know when to stop.”

According to Varnadoe, bullying is scary because any child can be a bully, g iven t he r ig ht ci rc u mstances. Factors like a broken home or unstable family environment may contribute to bullying behavior, but there’s not a profile for what a bully looks like.

“Some people who bully, particularly those online, a re not what you wou ld def ine as the traditiona l schoolyard bully. They may

look like an average kid, but exhibit bullying behavior. When you think about it, though, what does a bully really look like? It could be anybody,” Varnadoe said. “Somebody that may feel threatened by others may, in turn, turn into a bully. They may take on a bully’s behavior to prevent being th reatened or for self-protection.

There’s not really a set descriptor for a

Teens work in UGA research labs in summer

By MERRITT MELANCON University of Georgia More than 60 Georgia teenagers spent the better part of their summer working in some of the most prestigious research laboratories at the University of Georgia.

For more than two decades, the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences’ Young Scholars’ Program has paired researchers in CAES, the College of Pharmacy, the Warnell School of Forestry and the College of Veterinary Medicine with high school students to foster their love of science and introduce them to the breadth of science that is the foundation of agriculture — Georgia’s largest industry.

“We have students representing high schools from all over the state, including 20 different counties and 34 high schools,” said Victoria David, director of the CAES Office of Diversity Relations. “These students really are the cream of the crop.”

The students worked in some of the most advanced laboratories at UGA in Griffin, Tifton and Athens during the six-week program. They assisted with actual research projects led by UGA faculty, and at the end of the program they presented their f indings in a research symposium.

Some students may be listed as coauthors on these studies when they are published in academic journals, which is rare for students who have not completed high school.

“The science that underlies everything that we do in the college requires that we have the best and brightest study in our area whether it’s animal and dairy science, agricultural and applied economics, food science, education and leadership — those are the areas that are going to impact our state, but also, quite frankly, our nation and our world,” CAES Dean Sam Pardue told this year’s Young Scholars at the 2016 closing ceremony on July 8.

“Many of you in this room may have aspirations to be physicians or lawyers or engineers,” he said. “I hope you will take at least a few seconds to consider the great career you can have in the disciplines that are involved in food production and agriculture.”

Of the 16 past or current

Young Scholars who will come to UGA in the fall, seven will be joining CAES. For more information about the Young Scholars Program, visit www.ysp.caes.uga.edu or email Victoria David, director of the CAES Office of Diversity and the Young Scholars Program at vdavid@uga.edu .

bully. It really could be anyone in any place in any situation.”

Varnadoe suggests these g uidelines for parents to share with their children: – It is not possible to avoid all conf lict. Learn how to handle conf lict while treating yourself and the other person with dignity.

– Think of an in-the-moment strat-

egy. Take a moment to take a deep breat h a nd t hen add ress t he bad behavior by trying to find the courage to voice your feelings.

– Stop and strategize where and when you are going to talk to the person, explain what you don’t like, affirm your right to be treated with dignity and acknowledge anything you may have done to escalate the problem.

– Ask for help. It is not a sign of weakness. Reporting bullying is not snitching.

– Don’t ignore bullying when you see it. Although it is scary to witness bullying in person or online, it is important to speak out. Report it to an ally.

For more information, contact Varnadoe at 706-542-4H4H or by email at cv4h@uga.edu .

(Clint Thompson is a news editor with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences based in Tifton.)

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Sunday, July 24, 2016 | The Newnan Times-Herald — 15C

Tablets can lead to creative learning opportunities

By CAL POWELL UGA Extension

Tablets have become commonplace in today’s classrooms, even as early as preschool or kindergarten.

If used appropriately, these touch screen dev ices ca n enhance instruction, according to a University of Georgia Cooperative Extension specialist.

“The fact that tablets are being incorporated into the curriculum more and more often can be a good thing for children’s learning, as long as they are used appropriately,” said Diane Bales, an associate professor in the UGA College of Family and Consumer Sciences and Extension Human Development Specialist. “ I f tablets a re used i n appropriate ways to allow kids to work together on projects and share ideas, technology can enhance education.”

Bales pointed to benefits such as “virtual field trips” that students can take via tablets, or opportunities to “cocreate” stories, artwork, videos and other projects with classmates using the devices.

Because of the easy-tou nde r s t a nd to uc h s c re e n prompts of the devices and their widespread use both at school and in homes, tablets are often popular with young children.

“They are logical: I touch this and something happens,” Bales said. “You’re seeing the connection between the action and the result, and the interface is so easy.”

Despite the advantages, it's critical that teachers and parents work to familiarize themselves with the devices and make good choices about how children use them, Bales

said.

“Tablets can be misused,” she said. “There are a lot of apps and programs marketed to children that are not childdirected and that aren’t building deep knowledge. Choose content because children can learn something from it, not just because it’s cute.”

H e r e a r e a fe w o t h e r tips from Bales and UGA Extension: 1 . Ta l k to you r ch i ld’s teacher about how tablets will be used in the classroom.

“It’s a great topic of conversation for back-to-school nights and parent-teacher conferences,” she said. “Find

out what kinds of apps they use in the classroom that children enjoy. And if you have ideas or concerns about classroom tablet use, discuss them with the teacher.”

2. Provide structure, and consider time limits if a tablet is available at home.

“Using tablets should never be the only thing kids are doing, and it should never dominate a child’s day,” she said. “For some children, time limits are going to help make sure they don’t. Just be sure to make the time limit clear by explaining it to the child in advance and setting an alarm or timer.”

3. Remember that tablets are just one tool for enhanced lea r n i ng a nd shou ld not replace more t rad it ion a l options.

“A tablet shou ld never replace books or blocks or puzzles or hands-on art or running and climbing outdoors,” Bales said. “But it can be used to enhance what kids do and it can be a great tool to learn more. It’s like anything else: parents and teachers have to decide how best to use it.”

For parents who want more information about tablets, Bales suggests viewing the “Selecting Apps to Support

Children’s Learning” link at families.naeyc.org/learning-and-development/selecting-apps-support-childrenslearning .

(Cal Powell is the public relations coordinator for the University of Georgia College of Family and Consumer Sciences.)

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PHOTO BY CAL POWELL

University of Georgia Cooperative Extension experts remind parents that tablets are just one tool for enhanced learning. A tablet should never replace books, blocks, puzzles, hands-on art or outdoor play.

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16C — The Newnan Times-Herald | Sunday, July 24, 2016

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