In this Edition \ PAGE 1
PAGE 3 - 4
PAGE 7
PRINCIPAL’S
NEWS
SOCIAL WORKER
NEWS
CEDAR PARK
PTO
PAGE 9
PAGE 10
PAGE 11-12
UPCOMING
EVENTS
NUTRITION
NEWS FLASH
HOME & SCHOOL
CONNECTION
News from the Principal…
Dear Family and Friends,
I would like to thank all of you for another fantastic school year. We accomplished a great deal this
year. We introduced students to new tools in our Maker Space. We won two prestigious awards: the
Minnesota School of Excellence Award, only one of six schools in Minnesota to win the award, and
the National MSA School of Excellence Award. We continue to challenge ourselves every year to
integrate our STEM philosophy in everything we teach at Cedar Park. We want our students to be
world class thinkers above everything else. We encourage our students to ask questions, to find
multiple right answers and to learn through failure and to know that it’s okay to do so. We want our
students to learn as much in our backyard, in our labs, in our gardens as much as they do in their
classrooms. Hands-on learning combined with inquiry-based teaching makes for powerful authentic
learning. Thank you for allowing us to share the experience with your child. I hope you all have a
safe and enjoyable summer!
Sincerely,
John Garcia
Take Me Out to the Ball Game…
Congratulations to Tanisha Senapati and Nimisha Bora for being chosen to represent Cedar Park
Elementary at Target Field on Jackie Robinson Day (Friday, April 15). Tanisha and Nimisha were
honored for their “Breaking Barriers” essay submissions—where they described how they overcome
personal barriers by using Jackie’s values. We are very proud of you!
Bonnie Plants Cabbage Program
Each year Bonnie Plants, the largest producer of vegetable and herb plants in North America, with
70 growing facilities across the country, trucks free O.S. Cross, or "oversized," cabbage plants to third
grade classrooms whose teachers have signed up for the program online at
www.bonnieplants.com. If nurtured and cared for, kids can cultivate, nurture and grow giant
cabbages, some bigger than a basketball, tipping the scales, often over 40 pounds!
“Kids across America are growing, and some are earning, a lot of “green” participating in the
National Bonnie Plants Cabbage Program. Last year, more than 1.5 million third graders in 48 states
have gotten hands-on gardening experience growing colossal cabbages with high hopes to win “best
in state” and receive a $1,000 scholarship towards education from Bonnie Plants. Rebecca Kranz was
the $1,000 scholarship from Minnesota!!! Rebecca is a 4th grader at Cedar Park!
2 Social Worker News
THANK YOU FOR THE FOOD!!!
Thank you so much for your generous donations to our food drive. Our Student Council packed up
several boxes of food and it was delivered to the Rosemount Family Center to be distributed to local
families. They were very appreciative, of our donation, as their shelves were getting low! If you and
your family are in need of food, don’t hesitate to call me and I can put you in touch with local
resources.
Summer Power
Summer Power is your answer to quality childcare and exciting adventures for your child this
summer. They offer 3, 4 or 5 day options. Kids enjoy their day in age-appropriate groups and
participate in a variety of activates and field trips. Special themes guide weekly features and field
trips as kids explore zoos, museums, and parks. Trained YMCA staff provides responsible and secure
supervision at all times. Register early, space is limited. Cedar Park is a site this summer. Call the
Burnsville YMCA for more information at 95 2-898-9622 or
wwwymcadiscoversummer.org
School Supplies
School supply lists will be available on line. Watch for those good sales this summer where you can
get folders for a dime, notebooks for a nickel, and crayons or markers for fifty cents. You can outfit
your child pretty inexpensively by watching the sales. We always take donations of supplies if you
have extra.
Dakota County Child Supervision
Please note that the following criteria assume the children involved to be within the developmental
norm for their age. The following criteria are not recommendations. Children home along, being
babysat by a juvenile, or who are babysitting younger children with issues of mental health, medical
needs, developmental disability, substance abuse history, delinquency history, behavioral
disturbance, etc. will be screened for possible Child Protection Assessment regardless of age:
Home Alone Criteria: From Dakota County Social Services
~ Children under the age of 8 should never be left alone for any period of time.
~Children age 8 through 10 may be left alone for less than 3 hours.
~Children age 11 through 13 may be left alone for less than 12 hours.
~Children age 14 and 15 may be left alone for less than 24 hours.
~Children age 16 and 17 may be left alone for longer if there is plan in place about how to respond to
an emergency.
At what age can children babysit other children?
Children under age 11 should not provide child care to other children. For children age 11 and older
who are providing child care, the same limits apply to them based on their age as described above.
For questions about any of this, feel free to call Children and Family Intake: 952-891-7459.
3 Social Worker News (continued)
Summer Fun!
There are many free or cheap activities right here in our community. Here are a few numbers to call
to find out times of special events that will be happening this spring and summer. The library in
Apple Valley called Galaxie Library offers an incentive reading program for students as well as other
summer activities. Their number is 952-891-7405. Dakota County Parks, which includes Lebanon
Hills, hosts a number of summer fun activities as well as swimming, fishing and hiking trails. Our
students know this park well as they have done many field studies there. Their number is 952-8917000. Apple Valley Parks and Recreation have many fun summer activities including puppet wagon
performances, activities and a teen center. Their number is 952-953-2300. You can also find fun
events and activities in your local paper on online.
Story Line
Here is a fun resource called Story Line. Dial 952-352- 135 0 and your family can listen to a story
read by a local actor. The stories change on Sundays at noon. It’s a free local call. You can put the
phone on speaker and the whole family could enjoy a story together.
Free Kids Meals This Summer
Cedar Park, Echo Park, and Oak Ridge will be hosting a FREE SUMMER MEAL PROGRAM.
Monday through Friday, July11 – August 11. Your children, age 18 and under, can eat
breakfast and lunch for free at these schools. There is no income eligibility requirement. JUST
SHOW UP!! Funding for free school meals for all children is provided by the Federal Summer
Feeding Program. Adults may eat summer meals for $2.15 for breakfast and $3.80 for lunch (cash
only)
Ced ar P ark
E ch o P ark
7500 Wh itney Dr ive, Ap ple Valley
Ju ly 11 -Ju ly 2 2 ~ L unc h 12:0 0 – 1:0 0, M - F
Ju ly 2 5- Au gus t 11 ~ Br eakfas t 9:0 0 – 9: 30
L unc h 12 :00 – 1: 00
14 10 0 Cou nty Roa d 1 1, Bu rns ville
Ju ly 11 -Ju ly 2 2 ~ L unc h 11 :30 – 12 :30
Ju ly 2 5- Au gus t 11 ~ Br eakfas t 8:0 0 – 8: 30
L unc h 11: 30 – 12 :30
Oa k Ridge (new loc ation)
4 350 John ny Ca ke Ridge Roa d, E agan
Ju ly 11 -22 ~ Lu nc h 12: 00- 1: 00, M - F
Ju ly 2 5- Au gus t 11 ~ Br eakfas t 9 – 9: 30
L unc h 12: 00 – 1: 00
I am in school Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. If you have questions or concerns, feel
free to stop in, give me a call, or send and email. My confidential voice mail is 651-683-6969,
ext.18795. My direct line is 952-431-8795, and my email is diane.johnson@district196.org.
Diane Johnson, Cedar Park STEM Social Worker
4 Math Masters Hosted by Cedar Park
On Saturday, April 23, one hundred-seventy students in thirty-five teams from
schools in Minnetonka to Apple Valley to Northfield came to Cedar Park. They competed in
Math Masters, a math competition where 5th grade math students work as individuals and
in teams. Mrs. Maloney, GT/YS specialist, is the coordinator for this regional Math Masters
Competition.
Math Masters is a series of timed tests. The three categories include a fact drill,
individual rounds and team rounds. The fact drill is order of operations, which you have to
take in five minutes. Three individual rounds, which cover a variety of questions, took ten
minutes each. Team rounds where teams work together to solve problems took fifteen
minutes each.
Cedar Park entered two teams, Masters of Math and Math-E-Magicians, with two
alternates. The Masters of Math included Lizie Bryant, Akshara Ande, Rajee Kuchuru, Arsen
Hanushchak, and Amir Evans. In the Math-E-Magicians were Jash Parekh, Kristine Joseph,
Pierre Gelhar, Natalie LaCroix, and Elisabeth Nielsen. Cedar Park’s two alternates were
Nimisha Bora and Safiyyah Aziz.
In the fact drill round, Nimisha Bora placed 16th and received a ribbon for being in
the top twenty. Both teams from Cedar Park were recognized for placing in the team
rounds. The Math-E-Magicians placed 17th out of 35 teams. The Masters of Math placed
20th out of 35 teams. We congratulate both teams and alternates for working hard at Math
Masters.
5 STEM Family Night
Cedar Park’s STEM Family Night
on Thursday, April 21st, was a
huge success! Participants
enjoyed an evening of
entertaining demonstrations,
captivating student projects,
outstanding shows, and
fantastic family activities.
Many thanks to our amazing
staff for providing the
opportunity for our families to
explore the world of science,
technology, engineering, and
math. Also, thank you to our
families who attended the
event.
6 While it’s still a few weeks away, the P.T.O. is very busy working with teachers and staff to organize
the School of Excellence Family Night and Picnic - Friday, May 20th, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Food and
drinks, an inflatable obstacle course, a DJ dance, and much more are planned for this school-wide
evening of fun. Watch for more information coming home soon!!
Thank you to our community business sponsors who have donated to the
School of Excellence Family Night and Picnic:
American Legion Post 1776
Apple Valley Sam’s Club
Cedar Park P.T.O.
Dakota Electric
Kwik Trip - Farmington
Monroe Moxness Berg, PA
TAGS Gymnastics
On April 21st, we held our Annual Buy-1-Get-1-Free Scholastic Book Fair during STEM Family Night.
Cedar Park families bought $1,280.04 worth of books! Thank you to all of our families who took
advantage of this great deal and picked up some good books for summer reading!
We would like to congratulate the recipients of this year’s Cedar Park P.T.O. Scholarships! Samson
Ghirmai (Apple Valley High School) and Kali Reagles (School of Environmental Studies) will both be
graduating from in June and will each receive $750 towards their higher education tuition next fall.
Applications are available to all AVHS, EVHS, RHS, EHS, and SES graduating seniors who attended
Cedar Park Elementary for at least 3 years and who will be attending a higher education institution
after high school.
This month the P.T.O. continued its mission to support Cedar Park financially:
- $36.86 additional MCA snacks
If you are interested in sharing your ideas or helping with one of the many P.T.O. family events,
please join us at our next meeting! See you then!!
Upcoming P.T.O. Dates
May 9
May 20
May 24
June 6
P.T.O. Meeting 6:30-8:00 p.m. (in the library)
School of Excellence Family Night 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Spirit Night 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Chick-fil-A
P.T.O. Meeting 6:30-8:00 p.m. (in the library)
For more information, visit our website at cedarparkpto.digitalpto.com or follow the link on the
homepage of the school’s website.
7 Gym Shorts
Your students have worked really hard during
their Spring Fitness Testing days during PE.
They did a great job and many students had
great improvements!
Students will be working on practicing their
events for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th Grade Field Day
which is May 25th during their Specialist time.
The alternate day for this event is May 27th.
5th Graders are looking forward to their Track &
Field Day coming up very quickly on May 9th
with the alternate day as May 16th.
We are looking forward to a great rest of the
year and hope you continue to eat healthy
meals and snacks and get outside this summer
for some great summer activities!!!
Mrs. Douglas & Mr. Hartzheim
Physical Education Specialists
Band Notes
FOURTH GRADE BAND STUDENTS…
BAND OPEN HOUSE NIGHTS
(formerly “Band Registration” as listed on school
calendars)
WHERE AND WHEN:
Open House held at HIGHLAND ELEMENTARY
14001 Pilot Knob Road, Apple Valley
Monday, May 9th and Tuesday, May 10th
4:00 p.m. – 6:45 p.m.
WHO:
Parents of fourth graders who chose a band
instrument are invited to attend Band Open House
on one night on May 9th or 10th if needed. If you
need* to attend Band Open House and cannot
during this time, please contact Anja Firchow.
If you are obtaining an instrument from the school
district and have completed the online registration
steps, or if you already have an instrument for
your child and you have completed the online
registration steps, you do NOT need to come to
Open House, but are welcome to attend if you
would like to talk to Anja Firchow.
PURPOSE:
1. Music store representatives will be available to
help you if you need to make arrangements to rent
an instrument.
2. Anja Firchow will be there to answer any
questions you may have about the band program
or summer band lessons.
3. Help will be provided for families who do not
have Internet access and could not complete the
online registration for band.
Music Notes
Cedar Park second graders are preparing for
their upcoming program, Watch the Weather.
The performances are on May 12th at 2:30 and
6:30 p.m.
There’s no business like show business!
Grade-level talent shows will be held during
specialist times on Monday, June 6. A variety of
acts will be chosen to perform at the all-school
variety show at 2:00 p.m. on June 8th.
Permission forms will be sent home in Friday
folders on May 6th. You must have a signed
permission form in order to perform. Cedar
Park Stars – this is your chance to shine!
Mrs. Ploeger
Music Specialist
PLEASE NOTE
Be sure to bring your user name and password for
Fee Pay/Schoolview to Band Open House.
FIFTH GRADE BAND STUDENTS…
*The last after school big band meeting is May
4th. Lessons continue until May 20th. Lessons are
during the school day. Please help your musician
remember all of their materials on their lesson day.
*Middle school summer band information has been
mailed to families via the postal system and
email. Summer Band is a great way to experience
middle school for the first time in a low stress
environment, meet new friends, make music with
old friends, start a relationship with the middle
school teachers, keep the brain active, and keep
the instrument skills honed.
Mrs. Firchow
Band Specialist
8 UPCOMING EVENTS
EVENTS
UPCOMING
Wednesday, May 4th
Band Concert – 4:00-5:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 5th
4th Grade to Big River Journey – 11:00 a.m.-2:15 p.m.
5th Grade Patrols to MOA – 9:45 a.m.-3:15 p.m.
Monday, May 9th
5th Grade Track & Field Event – 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
(Apple Valley High School)
Culver’s Community Day
PTO Meeting – 6:30-8:00 p.m.
Thursday, May 12th
2nd Grade Music Program – 2:30 & 6:30 p.m.
Monday, May 16th
Alternate 5th Grade Track & Field Event –
9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. (Apple Valley High School)
Tuesday, May 17th
Kindergarten 2016-2017 Open House – 6:00-7:00 p.m.
Thursday, May 19th
Site Council Meeting – 5:00-6:00 p.m.
Friday, May 20th
School of Excellence Family Night – 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Tuesday, May 24th
Chick-fil-A School Spirit Night – 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 25th
3rd/4th Grade Track & Field Event – 10:25 a.m.-12:05 p.m.
1st/2nd Grade Track & Field Event – 1:50-3:15 p.m.
Friday, May 27th
Alternate Track & Field Day for 3rd/4th & 1st/2nd
Monday, May 30th
NO SCHOOL – Memorial Day
Friday, June 3rd
Kindergarten Graduation – 10:00 a.m. (Johnson/Schooley &
Stenzel), 2:00 p.m. (Flynn, Franklin, & Youngberg)
Monday, June 6th
Kindergarten Filed Study to Whitetail Park – 10:00 a.m.2:00 p.m.
Grade Level Talent Shows
PTO Meeting – 6:30-8:00 p.m.
Tuesday, June 7th
5th Grade Graduation – 2:00 p.m.
Wednesday, June 8th
Variety Show – 2:00 p.m.
Report Cards Sent Home
LAST DAY OF SCHOOL
Exploration Classes for grades 1-5 will be held on June 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.
Have a safe and happy summer!!!
9 May 16, 2016
Local Lunch Day
Did you know…?
Pinto beans are various shades of brown and tan. Much of
Minnesota's production of pinto beans is in the western portion
of the state, the soil rich Red River Valley area. Pinto beans are
commonly used in Mexican dishes such as refried beans.
Elementary – Chicken Nuggets, Tri-Potato, Whole Wheat Tea Biscuit,
Bush’s Vegetarian Baked Beans
Middle and High School – Chicken Nuggets, Tri-Potato, Krave Smores,
Bush’s Vegetarian Baked Beans
Navy beans are small, round, white, pea-shaped beans. Navy
The Secret Family Recipe
beans are mostly canned as ready-to-use products or used as
an ingredient in other dishes.
Dark red kidney beans are large and kidney-shaped. Mostly
canned, these beans are often used in chili, soups and salads.
The physical shape of the seed helps distinguish beans from
peas and lentils. Usually, beans are kidney-shaped or oval, peas
are round and lentils are flat disks. Most dry beans grown in this
country belong to the species Phaseolus vulgaris, or common
bean.
The term "dry beans" includes varieties of beans other than
green beans, string beans and soybeans. Dry beans are
available uncooked in sealed bags or pre-cooked in cans.
Beans are planted in May or June in Minnesota and take about
Bush Brothers & Company began as a family company back in 1908
and remains one to this day. Did you know that when founder A.J.
Bush started Bush Brothers & Company, he did not even sell beans?
+
How things have changed! But what has not changed is their belief
that quality is the best policy. Today they are still dedicated to
choosing the best beans, cooking up the very best sauces and
sharing the best recipes. It all started with a canning… and a can-do
attitude.
www.bushbeans.com
Where are Bush’s beans grown?
Navy beans are used in the Bush’s Vegetarian Baked Beans
which ISD 196 Food and Nutrition Services is featuring on the
May 16 Local Lunch Day. Half the crop is grown near the
Minnesota/North Dakota (Minn/Dakota) border, the other half is
grown in Michigan.
it begins to develop small flowers that vary in color depending
Dark red, kidney beans, black beans and pinto beans are grown
in the Minn/Dakota region.
on the bean variety. The flowers give way to pods, within which
Minnesota has the ideal growing season for dried beans.
12-14 weeks to grow to full height. Once the plant has matured,
the small beans begin to form.
The warm summer days ripen the beans inside the pods. One or
two weeks before harvest, the plants change color from green to
golden yellow, signaling they are ready for harvest. The
American bean harvest begins in August and continues in
various parts of the country until late October.
Check out the Food and Nutrition home page for
up-to- date information regarding dates and times at
www.district196.org, select “Meals” on the left side.
Americans are the chief consumers of beans with per capita
percent of American-grown beans are shipped to international
markets, helping to feed the world. www.extension.umn.edu
Lunchroom Joke Corner
What did one bean say to the
other bean?
Reminders for All Students and Parents:
Breakfast is FREE for all kindergarten students and students who qualify for FREE or REDUCED-price school meals.
Lunch is FREE for all students who qualify for FREE or REDUCED-price school meals.
Please try breakfast at your school. A nutritious breakfast is an important start to a child’s school day!
Parents/Guardians: FeePay has the option for you to set a low-balance reminder via email.
“How haveyou
bean?”
consumption at approximately 7.5 pounds annually. Twenty
Monday, July 11
Through
Thursday, August 11
at
Cedar Park
Echo Park
Oak Ridge
This institution is an
equal opportunity
provider.
Employment
opportunities within
Nutrition Services
are available.
We don’t just serve breakfast and lunch……..we serve students!
10 Home&School
Working Together for School Success
May 2016
CONNECTION
®
Cedar Park STEM School
Mr. John Garcia, Principal
SHORT
NOTES
Laughing together
Telling jokes with your
youngster is a fun way to build family
bonds. And jokes that involve wordplay can boost his vocabulary. Look
for joke books at the library, and take
turns reading aloud from them. If he
doesn’t “get” a joke, explain the different meanings of the words — he’ll
see that a bigger vocabulary means
bigger laughs!
Motivated ’til the last day
It might be a challenge for your child
to stay focused as the school year
winds down. Inspire her to continue
doing her best by having her compare
a journal entry or math test from the
beginning of the year with a recent
one. Seeing how far she has come
may motivate her to keep going.
Wear your seat belt
Before you drive away, remind everyone in your car to buckle up—and
check riders in the backseat. Don’t
allow youngsters to place shoulder
belts behind their backs, and set an
example by always wearing yours correctly. Also, tell your child to buckle
up in other people’s cars, even if the
driver doesn’t insist.
Worth quoting
“The only person you are destined to
become is the person you decide to
be.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
JUST FOR FUN
School may be out,
but learning is not!
Encourage your child
to keep learning all
summer long with
these ideas for at home
or on the go.
Whiteboard in a bag
Here’s a tool your
youngster can use everywhere. Let her make a “whiteboard” by sliding white paper into a
gallon-sized zipper bag. Drop in washable markers and a small package of
wipes. You might give her words to spell
or math problems to solve. Or have her
draw and write about what she sees out
the car window. She can write on the
sealed bag, use the wipes to erase, and
start again.
Show-and-tell table
Set aside a small table where family
members can share discoveries. For
instance, your child could bring back an
interesting rock from a walk or take a
photo of an unusual insect on the back
porch. Or you might add a news article
about a cool invention. Keep the table
going all summer—talk about the items,
rotate them, and learn together.
Reading staycations
Together, dream up imaginary vacations to take at home, and read fiction and
nonfiction books to go with your choices.
For example, make a tent with chairs and
a sheet, and read about camping. Or wear
leis and flowered shirts while enjoying a
story set on a tropical island. Your youngster may even like to “time travel” to
ancient Egypt with books on hieroglyphics. Note: Ask your child’s teacher or a
librarian for book suggestions.♥
For the teacher…
These teacher-appreciation projects are a fun way to
wrap up the year, and they will teach your youngster
to think of others:
● Get a plastic craft or tackle box with different-
tion lets you
look right
through a wall?
sized compartments. Let your child fill it with dollarstore treats his teacher would like, such as travel-size lotion,
sticky notes, or lip balm. Then, he can decorate the lid with “Thank you,” his name,
and the date.
A: A window.
● Have him pick out a packet of flower or vegetable seeds. Suggest that he use
Q: What inven-
© 2016 Resources for Educators, a division of CCH Incorporated
11 Summer learning: Anytime,
anywhere
permanent marker to personalize a flowerpot and place the seed packet inside
along with a thank-you note.♥
Home & School CONNECTION
May 2016 • Page 2
®
Raise resilient kids
Practice coping
skills. Raising a resil-
Coping with changes, bouncing back from
disappointment…youngsters who are resilient
are able to do these things more easily. Here
are everyday ways to help your child build
resilience.
Form strong connections. Kids who have
close relationships with loving adults tend to be more
resilient. Regularly show affection for your youngster, and
point out what’s special about him. (“You’re always so kind to
animals.”) Also, show interest in activities he enjoys, whether
it’s playing trumpet or collecting trading cards.
ACTIVITY
CORNER
Let the story unfold
Keep your child’s creative writing
skills sharp with these activities that will
hold her interest until the very last line.
1. Have your youngster cut out a dozen
random words or phrases from newspaper and magazine headlines. Examples: ice
age, mystery. Let her shake them in a bag,
pull out one at a time, and use them to
write the lines of a story. (“Not another
ice age!” Simon told his friend. “We need
to solve the mystery of why it’s so cold.”)
When she has used all her words, listen
while she reads her tale to you.
2. Ask your
child to make
up a story title
(say, “The Big
Thunderstorm”
or “The Day the
Zoo Animals
Escaped”). Then,
she could write one part—beginning,
middle, or end—and have family members write the other parts. When everyone finishes, she can put the pieces
together, adding transitions to connect
them logically.♥
O U R
P U R P O S E
To provide busy parents with practical ideas
that promote school success, parent involvement,
and more effective parenting.
Resources for Educators,
a division of CCH Incorporated
128 N. Royal Avenue • Front Royal, VA 22630
540-636-4280 • rfecustomer@wolterskluwer.com
www.rfeonline.com
ISSN 1540-5621
© 2016 Resources for Educators, a division of CCH Incorporated
ient child doesn’t mean
shielding him from
everything that’s difficult.
Instead, it means helping
him learn to cope. If his soccer team loses, say something
like, “I know you’re disappointed. It’s hard to lose, isn’t it?”
Then, tell him about a time you felt let
down, whether you lost a tennis match or
didn’t get a job you wanted. Your youngster will discover that
struggling—and moving forward—is a normal part of life. And
getting through it can help him deal with adversity next time.♥
Q Too much togetherness?
&
A
Q: Last year, my girls’ behavior really
deteriorated over the summer. I think
they were tired of being together.
How can I make this summer more
pleasant for everyone?
A: This is a common problem during
school breaks. Even siblings who get
along need space from each other.
Try to figure out “triggers”—maybe
one child makes noise when her sister is on the phone or takes the last ponytail
holder. Together, discuss ways to head off these situations (use the phone in another
room, keep hair supplies separate).
Also, plan times for your girls to be apart. If your older child has a friend over,
play a board game with your younger daughter so the big girls have time to themselves. Of if your girls start to argue, suggest that one move to the kitchen for a craft
project while the other reads in the living room.
At the same time, if they find activities to enjoy together, that will make the summer more pleasant, too. They might make music videos, for instance, or take up a
sport like volleyball.♥
PARENT
TO
R
PA ENT
Community classes
My son Eli was
excited to learn
about the solar system in school this
year, and I want to build on his enthusiasm this summer.
We got a summer catalog in the mail
from our parks and recreation department. Eli looked through it and
found a few free programs about
outer space. So far we’ve decided to
attend a stargazing session with a
local astronomer and a crafts class
where kids make a mobile of
the planets.
I also found a discount coupon for a
planetarium, so we’re planning a day trip
there the first weekend of summer break.
And of course we’ll visit the library so
Eli can check out
books on the planets, space missions,
and astronauts.
I had no idea our
community had so
much to offer for
Eli’s new interest—
looking around
really paid off!♥