Wichita Family Magazine - August 2013

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August 2013

Back-to-School Fashion For Kids Crafty Back-to-School Projects for Kids Is Your Pet Ready for Outdoor Weather?

N A T I O N A L

T R A V E L I N G

E X H I B I T

Hurry! Ends Sept. 2.

Included in general museum admission, free for Members.

300 N. McLean Blvd., Wichita, Kansas 67203 • Details at www.exploration.org

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august 2013

Inside this issue...

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Crafty Back-to-School Projects for Kids

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Back-to-School Fashion For Kids

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News and Information from our partners at Wichita Public Schools

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WFM: Product Picks

14

Is Your Pet Ready for Outdoor Weather?

Cover Photo courtesy of Rob Mikinski

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published by For the Families, LLC 316.295.8465 Publishers Eric and Christy Clark Advertising inquiries contact: Vice President of Sales & Marketing

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Cari Fischer cari@wichitafamily.com Wichita Family Magazine is published 12 times a year by For the Families, LLC. Wichita Family Magazine is available free, at schools, stores, restaurants, libraries, retailers and local attractions, as well as other places families frequent. For a complete list of where to find Wichita Family, or for subscription rates, visit www.wichitafamily.com.

Mailing address: P.O. Box 817 Wichita, Kansas 67201 How to reach us: Phone: 316.295.8465 Email: publisher@wichitafamily.com Copyright 2009 by For the Families, LLC. All rights reserved. Wichita Family Magazine is not responsible for errors, omissions or contest fulfillment from third parties. Reproduction in part or in whole without written permission is strictly prohibited. Wichita Family is distributed free of charge. The magazine’s advertisers make this possible, so support them! We reserve the right to edit submitted material. All submissions will be considered for publication, but we reserve the right to refuse material. Materials will not be returned. Any editorial content or advertising published is the property of For the Families, LLC.

Doctor’s Orders

“Millions of children will head off to school soon. Ensuring that your student is in good health with routine physical exams including hearing and vision tests is very important. When scheduling health care appointments, don’t overlook a dental checkup for your child. Routine dental examinations can uncover problems that can be treated in the early stages when damage is minimal and restorations are small.

So be proactive and protect your students smile.”

What’s Virtual School?

vir·tu·al school noun An online learning environment that gives students and families the ability to structure an educational experience that is both flexible and challenging

Maize Virtual Preparatory School offers a tuition free option for K–10 Kansas students. Using the world-renowned Calvert curriculum, your child has access to a comprehensive course of study that is:

Virtual – blends the online experience with traditional texts Classic – reading, writing, math, scientific exploration, historical research, and art

Want to advertise with us?

Contact Cari at cari@wichitafamily.com

Flexible – fits your family’s schedule and your child’s pace Easy-to-use – step-by-step daily lesson plans Visit maizevirtualprepschool.com/events to register for free, fun and informative family events.

To learn more or to enroll call (316) 462-8800 or go to: MaizeVirtualPrepSchool.com

Crafty The Quest for

Back-to-School Projects for Kids (Family Features) Back-to-School time is one of the busiest of the year. Kids love the excitement of catching up with friends, learning new things and meeting new teachers.

Teachers and moms see this time as hectic. Both have to buy supplies, organize and get kids back into a routine. And routines can be the biggest challenge.

Some kids finish work fast, leaving them bored and waiting on their siblings or classmates to finish up. The experts at Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores suggest creating a box of simple craft projects to keep kids busy during these downtimes.

Whether done at home or at school, crafts are a fun way to teach kids important life skills.

Kids learn to share, socialize and take pride in their work. They also learn to embrace creativity,

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Photos by Rob Mikinski

make choices, explore their own curiosity and express their thoughts and emotions. Dexterity and coordination are also developed as kids manipulate various tools, such as scissors, pottery wheels, needles and hooks. Complex crafts can also teach perseverance and build concentration.

Combine a love of reading with crafting by making a oneof-a-kind bookmark. Kids can complete the project then use it all school year long.

You can find more ideas, project guides and supplies at www. joann.com.

Bookmarks With Personality Crafting Time: Under 1 hour Skill Level: No experience necessary Supplies and Tools: Colorbok stamps: 4-inch by 8-inch Borders 4-inch by 8-inch Leaves 4-inch by 8-inch Christmas 4-inch by 8-inch Travel Colorbok papers: 12-inch by 12-inch Travel Chitchat 12-inch by 12-inch Jolly & Bright Mini Dots 12-inch by 12-inch Harvest Strip Acid-free ink pad Hole punch Ribbon

Acid-free adhesive or tape Scissors 1.

Cut the base for bookmark to size and shape.

2. Using a separate piece of paper, preferably solid or with a subtle pattern, cut pieces to layer onto the base sheet.

3. Cut pieces slightly smaller than the first shape, so the base of the bookmark can be seen.

4.

Stamp images firmly onto paper cut-outs.

5. Adhere stamped pieces to the bookmark base. To make a bookmark of conjoined circles, tape ribbon between large bottom circles and small top circles.

6. Punch a hole 1/2 inch from the top of the bookmark.

7. Run ribbon through the top.

Secure with a knot.

Kids’ Bookmarks Crafting Time: Under 1 hour Skill Level: Some experience necessary Supplies and Tools: Assorted colors of felt scraps Assorted buttons Scissors or pinking shears Fabric glue 1. Cut bookmark background piece to desired size

(approximately 8 inches long x 2- ½ inches wide).

2. Cut bottom into fringe, a point, or straight across. If desired, cut two, one slightly larger than the other, and glue together.

3. From other scraps, cut various

shapes and designs such as hearts, flowers, apples, leaves, geometric shapes.

4. Arrange shapes on bookmark and glue in place. Decorate as desired with ribbon, buttons or beads.

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B A C K T O S C H OOL Fashion For Kids

Megan – Maize Middle School - Dressed by Uptown Cheapskate, Wichita, Ks. American Eagle Shirt Refuge Jeans Converse Shoes

Justin – Maize Middle School - Dressed

by Uptown Cheapskate Wichita, Ks

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Coastal.co m Select a pair of m en’s or women’s g la your child’s sses, then select p See Free c air from the Kids ategory, a nd get your child’s glasses for FREE! r ProGea n a c li e P top lite Lap Sport E ck Backpa ht watertig Built-in f shproo and cru case laptop www. r. progea pelican 69.95 com $2

Chace – Kensler Elementary School Dhana EcoKids 100% Organic Tee om www.dhanaecokids.c

elet a, Ks ds Brac n hope ra – Wichit t S e 3 u iq t d bring u n o a B re e t Lan , resto Aprico rescue lp e h s t profi g.

50% of raffickin t x e s f so to victim

Emalee – Kensler Elementa School ry Sass Fac tory Me-T www. sassfacto ry.com $29.99

Laci – PrayWoodman Elementary Scented Macaroon Necklace www. tinyhandsonline.com $28

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News and Information from our partners at Wichita Public Schools

New bus behavior management practice to start this fall Students who ride the school bus every day will see something new, but familiar, when they climb on board when school starts in August. The Wichita Public Schools is partnering with First Student to use CHAMPS and ACHIEVE behavior expectations for students and drivers.

“We wanted to create district-wide behavior management expectations for riding the bus,” said Transportation Director Fabian Armendariz. “Students are used to seeing the CHAMPS and ACHIEVE expectations in their schools, so they will automatically know the expectations on the bus because they are familiar with the acronyms.”

The drivers and schools will work together

to set the same expectations on every bus. There will also be posters with the expectations displayed on every bus for students’ reference.

CHAMPS, which stands for Conversation, Help, Activity, Movement, Participation and Success, and ACHIEVE, which stands for Activity, Conversation, Help, Integrity, Effort, Value and Efficiency, are classroom management structures for all lessons and activities. CHAMPS is used at the elementary level and ACHIEVE is used at the secondary level. Students and teachers go over the expectations for each letter in the acronyms for each activity.

Brooks student wins first and third in youth writers contest Saniya Ahmed, eighth-grade student at Brooks Technology and Arts Magnet, placed first- and third-place in the poetry category of the Kansas Writers Association 2013 Youth Writer Contest.

Ahmed won first place for “My Freedom Fire,” a social issue poem reflecting on tolerance in the post September 11 world, and third for “Tigress,” a sonnet that reflects her love and reverence for the great cat.

She was recognized on July 20 at the Rockwell branch of the Wichita Public Library.

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product picks

Parents get out your checkbooks, it’s time for back-to-school shopping! We all know that there will be pencils to sharpen, and many glue sticks to label, but here are a few items that you may NOT have thought of!

Allermates As a parent of a child with food allergies, this line of products is always the first on my supply list.

Allermates offers a whole line of products designed to help keep your student safe at school whether they suffer from food allergies, diabetes, and even asthma. (www.allermates.com)

Klitch We all know that rain, or shine, the game must go on. Who wants to put their muddy cleats in their gym-bag after a game though? The Klitch is a brilliant new tool that allows you to simply clip those filthy kicks to the outside of your bag keeping what’s inside free of the grime. (www.theklitch.com $14.99)

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Olympus VN-702PC Audio Recorder Forgetting is not an option when your student has this tool in hand. This audio recorder is light-weight, easy to use, and clearly picks up 823 hours of audio! (www.getolympus.com $59.99)

MasterLock Electronic DialSpeed This super stylish lock is as functional as it is cool. It’s replaceable battery lasts 5 years, and it is vault enabled online so your student will never forget their combination again! This lock is also perfect for those who have trouble memorizing a series of numbers. (www.masterlock.com $15.99)

Better Binder by Staples With removable rings, this binder allows your student to pull out the tabs and place their work in a hanging file frame. This is a must for any organized high-school or college student. (www.staples.com $8.99)

Early Lingo

unger a child is own that the yo them to Studies have sh e easier it is for w language, th ne help a to to d d ne ce sig du intro series de Lingo is a video entals rly am Ea ! nd fu up e it th ck n pi months lear six as g un e yo ar your child as ersion. There uage through em of a foreign lang m. fro uages to choose currently 6 lang om $99.99) (www.amazon.c

Smoobee Hairbrush d ng your tender-heade If you’re tired of fighti , the ng rni mo ery ev sh diva with a hair bru ur alley. might be right up yo be Smoo e hairbrush who old ar ye e it! My 11 I had to see it to believ ears sw w no ir ha r I brush he screams every time rush irb ha ilt bu ty ali qu d by it! This durable, an get l gir lyels to help your gir even comes with jew on! zzle da be her 5) 3.9 $2 om e.c be (www.smoo

GeoPalz and iBitz Motivate your little couch potato with this innovative and fun pedometer! Partnered with a creative iPhone or iPad app, this device doesn’t just count your steps. The more active your child is, the healthier they keep their virtual pet! It’s exercise and a game all in one! (www.geopalz.com $34.99)

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Is Your Pet Ready for Outdoor Weather?

Allergies: Warm weather lets loose high amounts of pollen in many areas of the country and since pets can experience allergic reactions to inhaled particles like dust or pollen, pet parents should be on the lookout for signs that their pet may be suffering from allergies. Dr. Simon Starkey, veterinary expert for PetSmart, says you should monitor your pet’s behavior and consult your veterinarian if your pet exhibits reactions such as: Swelling or irritation of the skin, especially around the eyes, face, head and feet.

Hives, rashes, blisters, clear discharge from eyes or nostrils, sneezing, itching and mild discomfort may also be present.

Pets may also chew on or lick their feet constantly.

Allergy treatment for pets varies based on severity, but usually includes antihistamines and other medications to control the allergic reaction.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images (Family Features) When the weather’s nice, many people like to head outdoors – and their pets do, too. Before you let your pet go outside, make sure you’ve taken steps to prevent pests, care for their skin, and know how to spot signs of allergies.

Fleas and Ticks: Pets are susceptible to a variety of bugs and pests – especially fleas and ticks. Both should be avoided as fleas can trigger allergies and dermatitis in pets as well as infectious diseases in people and pets. Ticks may also carry diseases that can be harmful to pets. However, in a survey by the American Pet Products Association, only 64 percent of dog owners and 41 percent of cat owners purchased a flea and tick product for their pet last year. Be sure to purchase preventative topical treatments

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like K9 Advantix® II for dogs only or Advantix® II for dogs or cats to protect your pet. And after pets go outdoors, inspect them carefully for ticks and other insects to ensure their safety.

Grooming: A winter indoors often leaves pets with dry skin, tangled fur and a thick undercoat, which begins to shed when the weather warms. A professional grooming salon, like those found in PetSmart stores, will help keep pets cool with services like a bath, brush or hair cut to remove loose hair. Have their skin and coat moisturized with a hypoallergenic conditioner for a softer, shinier coat. Medicated flea and tick baths or spot treatments can also be added for instant relief and to help prevent flea and ticks from returning.

To learn more about pet essentials and services for spring, visit a store near you or www.petsmart. com.

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We’re the REAL deal!

2011 WICHITA FAMILY MAGAZINE’S

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Thank you for all your support!

(316) 794.8954 Westside of Wichita in Goddard