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BOISE SCHOOL DISTRICT MEAL PROGRAM
Boise School District provides healthy meals for breakfast and lunch at all district schools. Boise School District provides Provision 2 meals at several schools in the district. Provision 2 is an alternative within the National School Breakfast and Lunch Programs which is, in part, determined by the total percentage of free or reduced price meals served at the school during a baseline year. Under Provision 2, all students enrolled in the school receive meals at no cost to the family regardless of family income. Boise School District serves Provision 2 breakfast at the following elementary schools: Garfield, Grace Jordan, Hawthorne, Hillcrest, Jefferson, Koelsch, Lowell, Mountain View, Morley Nelson, Whitney, and Whittier. Provision 2 breakfast and lunch are served at Koelsch, Whitney, Whittier, and Taft Elementary Schools, Boise Language Academy, and Marion Pritchett School.
HOMEWORK MADE SIMPLE
Here is a book for any parents who have experienced stress, self-doubt, and anxiety over their child’s homework. In Homework Made Simple: Tips, Tools and Solutions for Stress-Free Homework, Ann K. Dolin, an educator with over 20 years of teaching and tutoring experience, reveals the core problems that lead to homework struggles. She identifies six key types of students who struggle with school and homework, offering lots of proven strategies to help each type.
Dolin helps parents create their own Action Plan to help ease homework stress in the home. To craft a plan, she suggests parents take the following steps:
1. Identify one or two problems that are causing the most distress.
2. Craft specific goals related to these issues.
3. Write down one to three strategies you can realistically implement to achieve each goal. Ask yourself, “Can I honestly do this for the rest of the school year?”
4. Implement these strategies.
5. Assess progress after one week and then again after four school weeks.
6. Once you consistently see change, pull back slightly so that you are less involved and your child has ownership over the strategy.
YOUTH SPORTS COMPLEX
Complete the Dream
The Boise Noon Optimist Club and the City of Boise have an agreement for the Optimists to develop the 25 acres to the west of the Optimist Youth Sports Complex (OYSC) and add it to the facility. When completed, the OYSC will be 52 acres with a total of 16 football/soccer fields, fishing ponds, covered picnic areas, playgrounds, tennis courts, restroom facilities, basketball courts, and a walking path around the full park along with paved parking for 1000 cars. It will be a great addition to the Boise City Parks system and one of the finest youth sports facilities in the West.
Moving into the final phase of development, the Optimists are looking to their alumni to help “complete the dream” and put the capstone on the Boise Optimist Youth Sports Complex. The goal is to raise $500,000. The plan is to dedicate one of the football fields, naming it “Alumni Field” in recognition of all who have been a part of this great organization since 1949. Additionally they would like to establish an endowment fund to assist with scholarships for youth who may not be financially able to participate.
For more information about the Optimist Youth Football and Cheer programs, visit www.optimistyouthfootball.com. From this page you can also register as an Optimist Alumni, find out how to donate, and link to a video which shares history about the program and ideas for the future.
FREDDY’S FRIDAYS AT DCI
Fred Meyer Fund, the charitable giving branch of Fred Meyer Corporation, has given a gift of $100,000 to the Discovery Center of Idaho. This gift will be used to fund free admission for the general public every Friday at DCI. This program, which is called “Freddy’s Fridays,” began on August 6 and will run through November 19 of 2010. With extended Friday hours of operation (9am to 7pm), this is a great opportunity for families to have a long and fun outing to the Discovery Center, at no charge, every Friday.
The current exhibit at the Discovery Center is Light Show, which is designed to challenge visitors’ everyday perception of light. Light Show seeks to put people “inside” the path of light and allows them to manipulate and separate light into a variety of shapes and colors, and come away with a much better understanding of the principles of light.
For more information, visit www.scidaho.org or call 343-9895.
Computers for Kids
Computers For Kids, Inc. (CFK) is a nonprofit organization that refurbishes and distributes surplus computers to students in grades K-12, as well as to first and second year college students. Its mission is to make computers and computer training available to Idaho school children who otherwise could not afford such technology for home use. Any child enrolled in school in the state of Idaho is eligible. Over the years CFK has distributed more than 10,000 computers and recycled over 900 tons of computers, monitors, and equipment.
Computers For Kids would like to put all of your surplus computers to good use. They are in need of monitors, keyboards, and mice, as well as CPUs. This program also helps to keep these computers and parts out of our landfills. Please drop off donations to the Computers For Kids office, 8540 W. Elisa Street, Boise 83709. Through donations from the community, students throughout the state of Idaho will have the opportunity to enhance their education through the use of technology in their home. Donations are tax-deductible. For more information contact Computers For Kids at 345-0346 or go online to www.cfkidaho.org.
IMMUNIZATION REMINDER SERVICE
Patients receiving immunizations at the Central District Health Department (CDHD) and other immunization providers throughout the state will be automatically enrolled in Idaho’s Immunization Reminder Service (IRIS). IRIS is a web-based program that keeps track of immunizations received and when vaccinations are due.
Idaho has one of the lowest children’s immunization rates in the nation. Immunization providers and state and local public health officials are working hard to improve Idaho’s immunization rates so Idaho children do not become seriously ill from vaccine-preventable diseases. In most cases of missed vaccinations, parents want their children to be fully protected, but sometimes forget vaccine schedules. The registry can be used to remind the medical provider and family of missed vaccinations or re-vaccinations because of lost or missing records.
Idaho participates in Vaccines for Children, a federal program. Under the program, the costs of vaccines are covered for children up to age 19. CDHD charges an administration fee on a sliding scale based on income.
For additional information on immunization services at CDHD, visit http://cdhd.idaho.gov/IMM/index.htm or call 327-7450.
GREAT BOOKS FOR YOUNG READERS
Each year the Pacific Northwest Library Association nominates several titles to be considered for the Young Reader’s Choice Award Medal. The books are selected on the basis of popularity in school and public libraries throughout the Pacific Northwest. Young readers are encouraged to read at least two of the titles, and to vote for their favorite. Voting takes place in the spring. Ballots may be set up at schools, or students may vote in many public library locations.
The Junior Division nominees for grades 4–6 are Amulet: The Stonekeeper by Kazu Kibuishi; Dog Lost by Ingrid Lee; Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix; Ignatius MacFarland: Frequenaut! by Paul Feig; The Maze of Bones (The 39 Clues series) by Rick Riordan; Savvy by Ingrid Law; The Seer of Shadows by Avi; and Swindle by Gordon Korman.
The Intermediate Division nominees for grades 7–9 are Airhead by Meg Cabot; Airman by Eoin Colfer; Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson; The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman; The Juvie Three by Gordon Korman; Rapunzel’s Revenge by Shannon and Dean Hale; and Zorgamazoo by Robert Paul Weston.
For a list of the Senior Division (grades 10–12) titles, visit www.treasurevalleyteen.com. For general information about the Young Reader’s Choice Award, visit pnla.org/yrca.
CELEBRATE GRANDPARENTS
In celebration of Grandparents Day, September 12, 2010, here are a few suggested activities that would be fun to share:
• Take a walk to a local park and have a picnic
• Cook a meal together to surprise mom and dad with a delicious treat
• Begin a family history journal or scrapbook
• Enjoy a craft afternoon
• Plan a family Game Night, complete with treats
• Take a day trip; for some great local suggestions visit treasurevalleyfamily.com/day-trip
• Cuddle up on the couch with a great book to share
• Go to a movie together
You can also celebrate with grandparents who don’t live close by:
• Send weekly texts or emails, updating on important happenings
• Write letters and put them in the mail with a current photo
• Sign up for online interactive games; many can be played from a distance
• Plan for a yearly get-together
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