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Safe Routes to School
Safe Routes to School (SRTS) is a program designed to encourage students to walk and bike to school to promote a healthy lifestyle, reduce traffic congestion, improve air quality, and enhance quality of life in our communities. Regular physical activity in childhood and adolescence improves strength and endurance, helps build healthy bones and muscles, helps control weight, reduces anxiety and stress, and increases self-esteem. And rsearch suggests a positive relationship between physical activity and academic performance. Students who walk and bike to school acquire and practice important skills, such as social skills and an understanding of the rules of the road, which they will use for the rest of their lives. Walkers and bicyclists can also attain a sense of self-sufficiency, responsibility, and independence that they will not gain while a passenger in their parents’ cars.
Here are a few tips to help your students have a safe trip while walking or cycling to school:
• Plan a safe route.
• Be visible — wear light-colored, retro-reflective gear and/or flashing blinkers.
• Walk on sidewalks or paths. If not available, walk facing traffic.
• Look left-right-left before crossing the street.
• Be extra careful when passing driveways.
• Be predictable. Don’t run across the street and don’t swerve randomly on your bikes — cars won’t expect it.
• When biking, always wear a proper fitting helmet and remember ABC: check Air in tires, for working Brakes, and that the Chain isn’t loose.
• Bike with the flow of traffic not against it, and use proper hand signals when turning and stopping.
• Walk and bike with others — parents, neighbors and friends.
• Parents are role models! Show your children the best ways to be safe and reinforce the skills they’re learning. Practice together.
For more information about Safe Routes to School, visit saferoutesinfo.org, or http://itd.idaho.gov/SR2S. To learn more about SRTS in Boise, contact Boise Safe Routes to School Coordinator Janell Zuckerman,
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Apparel with Positive Attitude
Bee-Tees is a line of clothing for children and adults touting messages such as bee kind, bee fair, bee inspired, and bee honest. The t-shirts sport an animated bee with a positive message of character or motivation. The idea was created when Melissa Patton, a mother and business owner, was searching for ways to teach her preschooler about positive character traits.
“I’m just a mom who was looking for a way to connect with my daughter on a daily basis through thoughtful conversation about the things that truly matter in life: kindness, honesty, fairness, and friendliness,” Mrs. Patton says. Bee-Tees have become an enjoyable way for this mom and daughter to experience a teachable moment in the morning. “I take this time to share my advice and life experiences with Lena. I explain to her that ‘being fair’ means sharing her toys and giving everyone their turn.”
T-shirts, hats, and bags with the positive “bee” messages are available for purchase at www.bee-tees.com.
Hide and Seek
Chickadees, a snowshoe hare, and nine other creatures await readers behind eleven generous gatefolds, while poems give readers clues about the animals’ identities and naturalist notes provide interesting facts. Where Else in the Wild? MORE Camouflaged Creatures Concealed…and Revealed invites readers to search — and find — each animal disguised in its natural environment. Authors David M. Schwartz and Yael Schy, and photographer Dwight Kuhn, explain the what, why, and how of nature’s animal camouflage, in this follow-up to the award-winning Where in the Wild?
National Preparedness Month
Emergencies can happen every day — from scraped knees and broken bones to house fires, wildfires, tornadoes, and earthquakes, but when you are prepared for these types of emergencies it can give you and your family peace of mind.
September is the sixth annual National Preparedness Month — the perfect time to discuss the importance of preparing for all kinds of emergencies.
By visiting Ready Kids at www.ready.gov/kids, families have access to a vast amount of free information, including a Family Emergency Plan template and activity books designed to educate kids in a fun and relatable way.
Here is a list of items recommended by Ready America, www.ready.gov, 1(800) BE-READY.
Emergency Supplies — Recommended supplies to include in a basic kit
- Water, one gallon per person per day, for drinking and sanitation
- Non-perishable food, at least a three-day supply
- Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
- Flashlight with extra batteries
- First aid kit
- Whistle to signal for help
- Filter mask or cotton t-shirt, to help filter the air
- Moist towelettes, garbage bags, and plastic ties for personal sanitation
- Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
- Manual can opener if kit contains canned food
- Plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
- Cellphone and chargers
- Important family documents
- Items for unique family needs, such as daily prescription medications, infant formula or diapers
Albertsons Boise Open
The Albertsons Boise Open presented by Kraft is a PGA golf event that benefits charities in the Treasure Valley (more than $9.5 million has been donated in its 19-year history). All of the organizations receiving tournament money are committed to improving the lives of children.
The 2009 beneficiaries include: Boise Public Schools Education Foundation, Children’s Free Dental Clinic, Dustin’s Paw of Idaho, Humphreys Diabetes Center, Learning Lab, Log Cabin Literary Center, BabySteps at St. Michael’s Cathedral, The Boise Philharmonic Association, Treasure Valley Family YMCA, and United Way of Treasure Valley.
The 20th anniversary of the tournament is a week-long event, September 14-20, and takes place at Hillcrest Country Club. The entire community is encouraged to join in. There is a Junior Clinic at 5pm on Tuesday,
September 15.
For a complete schedule of events and ticket information, visit www.albertsonsboiseopen.com
Girl Scouts — Still Relevant Today
Could an organization that was started nearly 100 years ago still have an influential effect on girls growing up in today’s world? The answer is yes! Girl Scouts is still as relevant to today’s members as it was in 1912 when Juliette Gordon Lowe set out to give girls more opportunities outside of the home. Beyond offering crafts, camp, and cookies, local Scouts are working on environmental protection projects to save the spotted bat population. Also included in today’s scouting is teaching about nutrition and exercise, teen dating violence prevention, anti-bullying strategies, healthy relationships, diversity, and inclusiveness. These are all skills that 80 percent of women who were enrolled as Girl Scouts attribute to their current success.
It costs just $12 to enroll as a Girl Scout and receive the benefits of membership, benefits that last a lifetime. At any given time throughout the day, a Girl Scout in southern Idaho is connecting with a positive adult mentor who is helping to nurture and guide her to make healthy decisions about her overall wellbeing.
The Girl Scout message remains clear and unwavering: Girls growing up today will become the women leaders of tomorrow. Girl Scouts offers programs that build courage, confidence, and character in girls who will someday be at the forefront of helping to make our world a better place. If you would like to learn more about the Girl Scout opportunity — either as a girl member or an adult volunteer — plan to attend one of the following open houses.
Wednesday, September 9, Eagle Library, 4-6pm
Thursday, September 10, West Family YMCA,6:30-8:30pm
For more information on Girl Scout programs or volunteer opportunities, contact the Girl Scouts of Silver Sage Council, www.girlscouts-ssc.org, 377-2011.
If you are interested in scouting programs for boys, contact Boy Scouts of America Ore-Ida Council, www.oreida-bsa.org, 376-4411.
Saving for College
September is National College Savings Month — a perfect opportunity for parents to assess college savings plans for their children — especially in light of President Obama’s call for more students to aspire to higher education. But with tuition costs rising and 41 percent of total aid awarded to undergraduate students coming from federal loans, the question becomes how to pay for it.
The average higher education borrower in 2006–2007 carried $22,700 in loans. However, the good news is that families can offset this amount by saving. “Idahoans can open an IDeal account for as little as $25,” said Idaho State Treasurer Ron Crane. “Investing $50 a month for 18 years, assuming a four percent annual rate of return, can provide more than $15,000 for college expenses.”
529 plans are state-sponsored programs that help families save for college tuition, certain room and board expenses, books, supplies, and other qualified higher education expenses. Accounts grow tax-deferred (state and federal), and withdrawals used for qualified higher education expenses are tax-free. For more information about the Idaho College Savings Program, IDeal, visit idsaves.org.
For other teen and college-related articles and resources, visit www.treasurevalleyteen.com.
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