Volusia May 2019
The Mom Issue & Summer Planning Guide
Volusia May 2019
The Mom Issue & Summer Planning Guide
May 2019
St. Johns May 2019
The Mom Issue & Summer Planning Guide
St. Johns May 2019
The Mom Issue & Summer Planning Guide
May 2019
Does It Really Make a Difference if They Read This Summer? Let Me Count the Ways
Summertime has come and the kids need a break. They need to run and play and swim. They need to forget about homework.
You’re right, they do. But what they don’t need is several months without any reading practice. Teachers know that kids who don’t read over the entire summer take giant steps backward in their abilities. They forget sight words and sounds. They can’t remember what to do when they get stuck and, even worse, they fail to hang on to the fluency they gained over the past
school year.
Reading is so key to all of learning that it’s the single most important skill to practice regularly. And it doesn’t have to be only independent reading, it can also be family read alouds, listening to good books, writing and reading their own stories and attending library
story hours.
There are not enough “shoulds” to convey how important it is for your child to practice reading over the summer holidays. And here’s why:
Emergent Readers
Emergent readers are kindergarten through second or third grade readers who are still learning the basics of all those squiggles and shapes. They sound words carefully and often get stuck. They are ready for simple sentences, but they may forget the sound of the letter y or w. They use their finger to follow along and need reminders to re-read or try again when they make a mistake. They’ve got a lot of reading skills in place, but they’re not there yet. Their skills are fragile.
These little readers will forget much of what they’ve learned if they don’t practice during the summer break. They’ll probably go back to school in the fall and need to begin from scratch. The difficult truth about emergent readers is they can easily lose confidence.
Don’t let that happen. Ten to fifteen minutes of daily oral reading practice plus some fun story times together will do the trick. Not only will they keep their hard-won skills in place, they’ll continue to grow and be ready for further challenges next fall.
Average Readers
These kiddos have made good progress throughout the school year, but they are not yet independent readers. Their fluency is up and down. They may need reminders to ask themselves questions as they read to maintain the meaning of the words. They’ll tend to focus word by word rather than read smoothly through sentences. They have limited vocabulary, but they are able to read easy books independently.
These kids need to read books they know well for fluency and also tackle some harder books that are high in interest. They’ll benefit from both independent practice and some side by side help to encourage good reading strategies such as rereading for meaning, trying something else if the words don’t make sense, and thinking about such story elements as beginning, middle and end, characters and plot.
These readers will definitely lose ground if they don’t read during the summer. But with just fifteen to twenty minutes of daily reading, they’ll keep the skills they’ve already learned and may even make some progress on their own.
Choosing high interest books is very important for average readers. Remember that comic books, magazine articles, and even reading instructions for putting together model airplanes count as reading. Be creative and find reading materials that motivate your average reader. You’ll be glad you did.
Fluent Readers
It’s tempting to think that fluent readers don’t need to practice their reading skills over the summer. After all, they’re cruising. But think of the learning opportunities they’ll miss if they don’t find good books to read
all summer.
In addition, studies have shown that vocabulary is the single best predictor of success in higher learning and reading is the best possible way to grow vocabulary knowledge. Even fluent readers need to keep honing their skills and may need to branch out into new genres such as biographies, poetry, science fiction, or topical non-fiction books to broaden their reading abilities.
Great thinkers are good readers. Independent learners need excellent reading skills to take off on their own projects. Find some lists of excellent reading in various genres. Encourage your fluent reader to both read and extend knowledge through art projects or other creative activities. Guide them to select quality literature. Reading is the foundation for excellence in academic performance.
Be Intentional
You’ll find more success in incorporating reading into your summer schedule if you’re intentional about it. Set a time of day for a reading break and stick to it as much as possible. Make trips to the library part of your summer outings. Take advantage of your local bookstore’s summer reading program or their read-aloud times.
You might enjoy having a family summer reading challenge to encourage reading a certain number of pages or books. Be sure to offer a motivating prize when your reader meets his or her goals.
Check out great reading websites such as pbs.org,
ala.org (American Library Association) or look up your child’s favorite author websites. Jan Brett, Kevin Henkes, and Jon Scieszka have wonderful sites to encourage reading.
And here are three more sites with lists of books appropriate to all age levels: www.neh.gov/news/summer-timefavorites
www.haisin.org/reading-lists.html (lists for pre-school through grade 12)
Especially for boys: www.thoughtco.com/librarians-recommend-books-for-boys-627556
And check out this article by Elizabeth Kennedy, “10 Tips to Help You Raise Kids Who Love Reading”, also at www.thoughtco.com.
Happy Summer Reading!
11 Secrets OF HAPPY Moms
“Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.” – Dalai Lama
We know that happiness is an emotion that can come and go. But how do we recapture that bubbly feeling amid the challenges and stresses of parenthood? Here are a few tips from moms for staying positive and feeling good.
LEAN ON COMMUNITY. Several moms polled for this article agreed that moms’ night outs with their friends help them feel more optimistic. And science proves it. Studies find that time spent bonding with friends boosts a woman’s level of oxytocin, a natural hormone that reduces stress. Check out mothers’ groups in your area if you are struggling to build a support network.
COMMIT TO HEALTHY LIVING. Women who make time to care for their bodies, enjoy a stronger self-image and feel more self-confident and energetic. Exercise, try to get adequate sleep, schedule regular massages and make healthy food choices to feel your best. “I know that when I am reasonably well-rested and happy, I am absolutely more patient, energetic and empathetic to everyone in my household,” says Erica Wilson, a mom of one.
TAKE TIME FOR PERSONAL PURSUITS. Whether you like surfing Pinterest, training for a 5K or simply taking a warm bubble bath, moments stolen throughout the week contribute to our overall sense of well-being. “I try to take at least a few minutes a day outside. I close my eyes, take deep breaths, and listen to the sounds,” says Melanie Werner, a mom of one.
NOURISH YOURSELF. During the rush of the week, most of us throw meals together just to get our hungry crew fed. If you enjoy cooking, find a day when you can slow down and relish the preparation. The process of chopping and measuring ingredients is meditative and soothing. Create a feast to delight all of the senses by serving your meal on a table laid out with your favorite dishes and cheerful flowers.
LAUGH. Family life can be funny. Kids say hilarious things. Pay attention and write those gems down. Next time you need a lift, read them. Need more ideas? Look at funny family videos or photos, hang out with lighthearted friends, watch a silly movie or read a humorous book.
FOLLOW A SPIRITUAL PRACTICE. Studies find that people who lean on an inner belief system are happier. You don’t have to be religious to be spiritual. You can feel a connection to spirituality through helping others, nature, yoga, music, art, personal meditation or journaling. Michelle Hovick, a mom of one, says the “Elevation” church app is one of her favorite spiritual gateways to a mood shift.
PRACTICE GRATITUDE. In a gratitude study at Eastern Washington University, researchers found a positive correlation between gratitude and happiness. “We have found that grateful individuals tend to be happy individuals and that grateful thinking improves mood,” the researchers reported. Try writing down three things you are thankful for each day––small moments count too.
GET A GROOVE ON. Whether she participates in a Jazzercise class or switches on upbeat dance tunes in her kitchen, Jessie Mallicoat, a mom of three, says, “If I’m in a bad mood, I put on some ‘dancy’ music and it usually helps.” In fact, studies find that dancing boosts the body’s feel-good endorphins. Dancing has even been found to reverse depression and increase self-confidence.
Set boundaries. Moms who are happier make conscious decisions on a daily basis about who and what is allowed into their lives. Switching to this way of thinking is empowering. You don’t have to be harsh or hurtful to accomplish this goal. Politely decline invitations that don’t fit with your priorities and limit interactions with negative individuals.
ACCESS GOOD CHILDCARE. Seek reliable childcare in order to feel secure pursuing personal interests, maintaining routine health check-ups and enjoying date nights with your partner. A positive marriage contributes to the overall emotional health and happiness of your family. Having trouble finding a sitter? Check out SitterCity.com, Care.com or ask other parents for references.
AVOID COMPARISON. Parenting philosophies that work well in one family may not work well in another. Thanks to the influx of information at our fingertips, parents have no shortage of advice. Decide which strategies make sense for your family. And beware of spending too much time on social media if you’re starting to feel like you don’t measure up. “Being happy with yourself and how you parent is key to accepting other moms and how they parent, which creates a more supportive parenting community all around,” says Mandy Yokim, mom of two.
Developing Community Ambassadors
Dante Picchiello (right), a high school junior from Father Lopez Catholic High School, paints picnic tables with his classmates at Duvall Homes, a nonprofit organization in Volusia County that provides residential supportive care and day training for people with Down syndrome, autism and other developmental disabilities.
We raise our children to be polite, to play safe and fair, to practice good hygiene, to finish their vegetables…and to do many other things. Well, there is another subject matter parents and teachers impress upon children that can make a positive impact on their future. Introducing the priceless value of community service to children, at a young age, helps develop caring adults with an understanding of the many areas in need of support that surround them. When elementary age students discover the needs of people in their own neighborhood, and learn how they can help, it stays with them forever and can create life-long ambassadors of their community.
“The first time I remember helping my community was when I was eight years old. I helped clean up debris in the neighborhood after a hurricane,” said Dante Picchiello, a junior at Father Lopez High School. Since then, Dante has contributed numerous hours of service to his community. Just this past February, Dante began the month by volunteering to paint picnic tables at Duvall Homes, a nonprofit organization in Volusia County that provides services for people with special needs. He ended the month by preparing for a mission trip with classmates to the Dominican Republic.
Elizabeth Henry at DeLand High School
We raise our children to be polite, to play safe and fair, to practice good hygiene, to finish their vegetables…and to do many other things. Well, there is another subject matter parents and teachers impress upon children that can make a positive impact on their future. Introducing the priceless value of community service to children, at a young age, helps develop caring adults with an understanding of the many areas in need of support that surround them. When elementary age students discover the needs of people in their own neighborhood, and learn how they can help, it stays with them forever and can create life-long ambassadors of their community.
“The first time I remember helping my community was when I was eight years old. I helped clean up debris in the neighborhood after a hurricane,” said Dante Picchiello, a junior at Father Lopez High School. Since then, Dante has contributed numerous hours of service to his community. Just this past February, Dante began the month by volunteering to paint picnic tables at Duvall Homes, a nonprofit organization in Volusia County that provides services for people with special needs. He ended the month by preparing for a mission trip with classmates to the Dominican Republic.
AWARENESS = ACTION = SUCCESS
Most high schools require a minimum of 100 hours of community service by the time the student graduates, while some colleges like to see 200-to-300 hours or more. In addition to high school test scores, community service hours can be a determining factor in college acceptance. Why is this? According to Forbes Magazine, students who have been active in their community are more likely to be active in school social life and contribute to a school’s mission.
There are a host of community service activities kids of all ages can get involved in, and seeing elders get involved inspires children to do the same. In addition to meeting new friends and gaining new experiences, donating time to helping others creates a platform for developing personally in a way self-serving tasks do not.
“Volunteering in one’s community builds character and the social-emotional part of children that can’t fully develop in the classroom alone,” said Felicia Benzo, Founder/President of CATALYST Global Youth Initiatives, Inc. “Obtaining a good GPA is not sufficient to building a well-rounded human being,” added Benzo.
There are many opportunities for young children to help their community. Have them collect a pile of books they’ve already read to donate to a school library. Encourage them to fill a bag of outgrown clothes and shoes to bring to a local drop box. Shop for nonperishable foods for a food bank. Making cookies for a homeless shelter or cards to send to Veterans or deployed U.S. Troops can be educational, fun and impactful – impactful on the recipient(s) of their service and on the child. As the nation grows, our future depends on developing more young community ambassadors.
Learn more about volunteer opportunities at Duvall Homes by contacting LHabermehl@DuvallHomes.org. (Resources: Reasons to Get Involved, KidsHealth.org; Service Projects for Kids, KidWorldCitizen.org)
From the Editor
THANK YOU! As we approach the end of our first year as the publisher of Flagler Parent, we want to thank everyone who continues to make it possible. We have a fantastic editorial committee made up of school district personnel, community leaders, advertisers and parents. Our staff considers this a labor of love and strives every day to bring beautiful design and meaningful content to you, through print, digital and social media. Our Account Executives share our mission and publication with the community to gain their support (and they donate great promotions to Parent Magazines that we can give away to our readers). Our advertisers continue to offer wonderful products and services to our readers.
We also want to recognize you – our readers! Your calls, emails and social media messages have given us great feedback. We hope you will continue to let us know what you want to read and see. Be sure to visit our Facebook page @VolusiaParentMagazine, and after liking/following, be sure to share our digital guides and stories with your friends and family.
Look for our Annual Health and Wellness issue this summer, available
in racks throughout the community and on our website at
ParentMagazineFlorida.com and app (Volusia Parent). If you subscribe as a Parent Digital Subscriber, you will receive a link when it is available, a Weekly Things To Do eNewsletter and a Monthly Flagler Parent eNewsletter. It is the best way to make sure you do not miss anything!
In this issue, we are celebrating Moms and bringing you ideas for a
fun-filled and productive summer.
We are honored to be able to give you this publication, and we hope May brings you sunshine and flowers!
Best,
Dr. Barbara C. Holley
Editor, Parent Magazines
We also want to recognize you – our readers! Your calls, emails and social media messages have given us great feedback. We hope you will continue to let us know what you want to read and see. Be sure to visit our Facebook page @StJohnsParentMagazine, and after liking/following, be sure to share our digital guides and stories with your friends and family.
Stephanie Robinson (Business Manager), Debbie Trask (Account Executive – Flagler and St. Johns Counties), Barbara Holley (Editor), Howard Holley (Publisher), Jeanne Coates (Managing Editor) and Gabrielle Gonzalez (Account Executive – Volusia County)
We also want to recognize you – our readers! Your calls, emails and social media messages have given us great feedback. We hope you will continue to let us know what you want to read and see. Be sure to visit our Facebook page @StJohnsParentMagazine, and after liking/following, be sure to share our digital guides and stories with your friends and family.
Look for our Annual Health and Wellness issue this summer, available in racks throughout the community and on our website at ParentMagazineFlorida.com and app (St. Johns Parent). If you subscribe as a Parent Digital Subscriber, you will receive a link when it is available, a Weekly Things To Do eNewsletter and a Monthly Flagler Parent eNewsletter. It is the best way to make sure you do not miss anything!
In this issue, we are celebrating Moms and bringing you ideas for a fun-filled and productive summer.
We are honored to be able to give you this publication, and we hope May brings you sunshine and flowers!
Family Volunteer Vacations: Doing Good While Having Fun
For your next family trip, how about doing some good while also having fun. Sound intriguing? It’s called a “family volunteer vacation,” and thousands of people across the country are taking them every year. The trips can last for a few days or several weeks, but they all have one thing in common: your family will spend some time helping people or animals in need.
Why do so many families choose to go on such vacations? According to Nancy Schretter, the founder of Together For Good, a non-profit organization that organizes family volunteer vacations, “families really want to give back and make the world a better place. They want to find meaningful trips where they can make a difference.”
Experts note that family volunteer vacations are beneficial not only to the communities that are served but also to the families themselves. “Helping others while traveling,” says Charis Atlas Heelan, a writer for Frommer’s Travel Guides, “can instill a greater understanding of the world and teach your children about the importance of community, compassion, and consideration for others.” Indeed, says Ms. Heelan, “a volunteer vacation, that your whole family can participate in, may just be one of the most rewarding experiences that you will share together.”
If family volunteer vacations are so good for all involved, how do you decide where to go? To make the trip as successful as possible, says Laura Eickhoff, an expert on family volunteer vacations and author of The Abroad Guide, a well-known travel blog, it’s important to find a destination that’s aligned with everyone’s interests: “If everybody’s not onboard from the start, you may find yourself with some less-than-eager participants.” Amy Whitley, a travel reporter with a lot of experience in family volunteer vacations agrees, saying it’s particularly important to follow the passions or interests of your kids: “Pursue a volunteer vacation that’s in line with your children’s interests. For instance, if your child loves animals, consider a trip aiding marine mammal rescue or if your kids have a passion for the outdoors, get your feet wet with a trip maintaining trails or landmarks with your local state park system.”
There are many places your family can go and volunteer; here are just a few places from across
the country:
# Give Kids the World Village (Kissimmee, Florida). At this non-profit resort for kids with life-threatening illnesses, family volunteers help run the resort. You can expect to help out with pony rides, run the merry-go-rounds, scoop ice cream, and assist with many other things.
# Hands Up Holidays (New Orleans, Louisiana). You will help with the post-Katrina recovery of New Orleans with activities such as rebuilding houses, sorting clothing donations, and entertaining the elderly in assisted living facilities.
# Best Friends Animal Sanctuary (Kanab, Utah). Here at the largest animal sanctuary in the country with about 1600 animals, you help care for rescue cats, dogs, rabbits, horses, and pigs. You can adopt many of the animals and continue to take care of them
at home.
There are many organizations that can help you organize your family volunteer vacation to suit your particular interests. These include Give A Day Global, the Global Citizens Network, Global Volunteers, Globe Aware, Habitat For Humanity, Love Volunteers, Me to We, the Nature Corps, the Sierra Club, and Wilderness Volunteers.
21 Ways For Kids To Avoid The Summer Slide: Boredom Busters For All Ages
You have probably heard about the summer slide—the way kids can lose a lot of the skills, knowledge and motivation they learned during the school year over the lazy, hazy days of summer. And though I am sure you don’t need your child to become the next Einstein or Madame Curie, you probably want to make sure your child will retain all that was learned last year in order to be prepared for the academic year to come.
And sure, a little strategic screen time here and there can be educational when we intend it that way, but the key to keeping summer fun and instructive is to mix up informative play and educational screen time. This is also a great way to stave off the inevitable choruses of “I’m bored” or “We’re bored.”
This summer, set the tone that a little learning is an important part of each day, so kids still enjoy the relaxation of summer while keeping up the habit of learning.
Here is a roundup of 21 ways to keep your kids’ minds active all summer long, so your kids will have a happier summer and you won’t worry about the transition back to school come fall:
1. Ask for insight. Check with your child’s teacher before school gets out to see what kinds of educational goals she recommends for your child. Don’t compare your children’s academic performance to siblings or friends. Everyone learns and grows differently. Aim to support your child wherever he or she stands academically right now to maximize the enjoyment of learning.
2. Sign up for your library summer reading program. Set a minimum reading time each day of thirty – sixty minutes. Or break reading time into two thirty-minute chunks — one for a parent-approved book and the other for whatever your child chooses to read. The library offers lots of variety, and summer is a great time to check out age-appropriate comic books and graphic novels, as well as cookbooks and biographies.
3. Visit museums in your area. Find out in advance when the free days are to visit local museums and learning centers. Opt for a guided or non-guided tour, as your family prefers. Be sure to check out the gift shop on your way out for inspired games and toys.
4. Plant a garden together. Use illustrated gardening books by Sharon Lovejoy to find projects that suit the personalities of your family and kids. If your family loves pizza, plant a pizza garden. If fresh salsa is your thing, plant a salsa garden. Think about what your family likes to eat and plant accordingly. See sidebar for guidebooks bursting with gardening inspiration.
5. Shop like a teacher. Visit your local teacher supply store and stock up on workbooks and educational games. Other things you will find that might motivate summer loungers include timers for breaking the day up into learning chunks, craft supplies for every age, and educational games, videos and music.
6. Play store. Pull a portion of the food in your cabinets and pantry out onto the countertops. Let kids use real money, price items, break out the calculators, and do the math. Make playing store an all-day affair or a weekly occurrence, if your kids enjoy it. Make the game as simple or complex as suits your childrens’ ages.
7. Visit local nature centers, Audubon societies, and nearby gardens. Make a list at the beginning of summer and plan to hit all the regional natural destinations before the first day of school. Then, plan a weekly outing and bring along a picnic. To review what you saw and learned on the way home play “I Spied,” instead of “I Spy.”
8. Research a future vacation. Let each child pick their own destination and figure out what it would cost for the family to spend one week there including airfare, transportation, meals, hotels, and everything else. Have them present their proposed vacations to the whole family by showing the math writ large on posterboard. Who knows, they just might talk you into a trip you hadn’t thought of yourself.
9. Let them plan a meal. The kids can become chefs for the day, including the jobs of finding the recipes, making the grocery list, cutting the coupons, doing the shopping, comparing brands, and cooking up a storm. Then be a good sport and enjoy whatever they serve. Very young children can do the same, only with make-believe food.
10. Have a word of the day. Put the word in large letters at the top of a page with the definition just below. Hang the word on the fridge and make a game out of using it in sentences all day long.
11. Battle bugs or weeds as research projects. What a great way to practice troubleshooting and potentially solve your most nagging nuisances. Challenge older kids to solve your ecological challenges by researching and experimenting with natural solutions they track down on the Internet. Keep a log of the results. Give rewards for problems solved.
12. Measure and mix. Put the kids in charge of desserts for the summer. Make sure they create some healthy choices like fruit pops or sorbet as well as delicious baked goodies like pies, cakes, and cookies. If they get carried away, let them have a neighborhood bake sale.
13. Go multi-media with books you read together. Take turns reading out loud or check out audio books from your local library to listen to before dinner or before bed. Once you finish the book as a family, watch the movie together. Compare and contrast the books and the films. See sidebar for suggested books that have been made into movies.
14. Keep a “How I Spent My Summer Scrapbook.” Choose a blank-page, over-sized book with ample pages for writing, collaging, collecting, and embellishing. Set aside time to work on “summer books” for a half hour every day at whatever time of day works best. Let kids decide whether or not to keep it private or share the results with the family.
15. Sign up for BrainPop. This educational website has over 1,000 short animated movies for kids ages six – seventeen, making it the perfect substitute teacher for your kids over the summer. Best of all, they can pursue topics that interest them. Check with your child’s school library to see if they have free access to BrainPopJr for K – Third Grade. Otherwise, a subscription is money well spent on entertaining enrichment.
16. Tackle a big creative project. Choose one that takes planning, creativity, and involving others like putting on a puppet show, writing a play, or making a movie. Let your child approach the project in his or her own way, and only offer to help if you are needed. Invest a little money in your child’s creativity and their imaginations will be buoyed by your patronage.
17. Visit friends and family around the world. Start with a list of friends and family you know all over the globe. Then once a week, take an hour to really explore that destination via Google Earth and by researching online information. Expand your geographic horizons further by video-calling your friends or family and informally interviewing them about the area where they live. Post a map on the wall and stick a tack in each location you
visit virtually.
18. Think beyond the lemonade stand. Terrific lessons about business, sales, and marketing will be learned when you create your child’s version of the lemonade stand. Why not sell old toys, baked goods, or artwork as a lesson in entrepreneurism? You never know, you might spark a future interest in business.
19. Commit to a cause. If you child loves animals, see if you can spend some time volunteering at a local animal shelter. If she’s a regular fashionista, why not throw a summer fashion show to raise money for a local charity? Even a trip to your local food bank or letting your kids come with you while you give blood is a life lesson that keeps on giving.
20. Share your childhood favorites. Did you love to make friendship bracelets or collect comic books? Did your husband learn to play guitar or practice scouting skills in the backyard? Summer is the perfect time to share your favorite hobbies and summer pastimes with your kids. Why not strike up a conversation about it at dinner tonight to get the memories rolling?
21. Admire intelligence. Find healthy and smart virtual role models for your tween or teen to study over the summer. For example, if your young lady loves biology and dissecting frogs, she might enjoy trying some home experiments created by Bill Nye, The Science Guy. Learn more at http://www.billnye.com/for-kids-teachers/home-demos/. Make a list of virtual summer tutors for each child and indulge in customized summer learning.
Books With Film Adaptations To Read Together
- Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans and John Bemelmans-Marciano
- The Cat In The Hat by Dr. Seuss
- Winnie-The-Pooh by A. A. Milne
- Eloise by Kay Thompson and Hilary Knight
- Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White
- The Tale Of Desperaux by Kate DiCamillo
- Freaky Friday* by Mary Rodgers
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
- Charlie And The Chocolate Factory* by Roald Dahl
- Little Women* by Louisa May Alcott
- Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling
- The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe* by C. S. Lewis
- The Hobbit* by J. R. R. Tolkien
- Gardening Books By Sharon Lovejoy
- Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots: Gardening Together
With Children - Sunflower Houses, Inspiration From The Garden
- Trowel and Error: Over 700 Tips, Remedies & Shortcuts For The Gardener
* Indicates more than one film version available.
From the Superintendent
It’s hard to believe the end of the school year is already here. I am so pleased with what we’ve accomplished this year. I would like to highlight some events in our district before looking forward to an exciting 2019-2020 school year.
In March, our students participated in three annual Volusia Fitness Festivals, in which more than 1,800 Volusia public school students, grades 4-8, were involved. These festivals highlighted the fitness abilities students have developed over the course of the school year. Students competed against similarly-aged students from other schools. The individual events, some of which are part of the Presidential Fitness Challenge, included the 50-yard dash, shuttle run, mile relay, standing long jump, pull-ups and sit-and-reach.
James T. Russell, Superintendent of Volusia Schools
Volusia County Schools now has Angel Funds where members of the community can help bring students’ negative meal accounts into good standing. Funding for meals is available for students who are eligible for free or reduced-price meals, but meals for students who do not qualify for the program are not funded. Individuals and charitable organizations can donate money to a school’s “Angel Fund” to help repay student meal debt. Money donated to angel funds are distributed equitably to students with an outstanding meal debt. We strive to give our students the best education and nutrition. Students who eat regular, healthy meals are less likely to be tired, are more attentive in class, and retain more information. To help support this program, individuals or organizations that would like to make a charitable donation can contact an individual school’s front office and ask to contribute to their Angel Fund.
The school board convened on Thursday, March 28th to determine a change of schedule for all schools that would facilitate handling many factors including a need to build in more time between bus routes to avoid late buses at the middle school level and the addition of 30 minutes to the elementary student day. We believe the later start time for High School will also be beneficial. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics , middle and high schools should start at 8:30 a.m. or later to give students the opportunity to get the amount of sleep they need. With these several ideas in mind, the Volusia County School board voted to change school start times for next year to:
•Elementary 7:50 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.,
•Middle 9:30 a.m. – 4:15 p.m.,
•High School 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
These times will be effective in August 2019, for the start of the 2019-2020 school year. The School Board developed this schedule by modifying the start time committee’s option #1 after reviewing the results of the survey. We understand that later Middle School start and end times may be challenging for some families. Some options being considered are morning tutoring and offering more clubs for Middle Schools to help families transition to the later start time.
Thank you and enjoy this edition of Volusia Parent Magazine.
FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT
As we continue through the school year, celebrating the success of our students, preparing for state testing and planning for high school graduations, it is the perfect time to reflect on the dedication of our support employees throughout the district. They may not be standing in front of your children on a daily basis, but it is their work that helps all of us do ours better each day.
Getting to recognize all of the School-Related Employees of the Year is an annual highlight for me. These employees are so important in fulfilling the mission of our district. They are the individuals who keep our schools and grounds clean, transport our students safely to and from school, feed our students nutritious meals, assist in the classroom, help out in the media centers, take care of administrative details, handle front office duties, update our data, keep our schools safe, and monitor and ensure the health and well-being of our students. The applications are varied in skills and abilities, but the love for children resonates in them all and it makes for a very daunting task for the judges.
Tim Forson, Superintendent of Schools, St. Johns County School District
This year’s St. Johns County School District (SJCSD) School-Related Employee of the Year is Staci Boyer, a confidential secretary/bookkeeper for Principal Allen Anderson at Freedom Crossing Academy. In early 2018, she and her principal left their previous positions to take on the overwhelming task of opening a new K-8 school. Greeting students, working with teachers, creating job postings, entering purchase orders, overseeing fundraisers and ensuring that her principal has the support he needs to be successful are just some of her daily duties.
Enthusiastic, dedicated and insanely creative are words used to describe Ms. Boyer. She is always willing to help and has the trust of her principal, teachers and peers to carry out complex tasks with minimal supervision. She organizes events regularly and never takes her focus off of doing what’s right for the students she serves. Her principal lauds her loyalty and her ability foster the family setting throughout the school and community. She is a very valued team member in the SJCSD and her strong work ethic and commitment to doing whatever is needed to get the job done are just a sample of what makes her an excellent candidate for consideration at the state level.
Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring and Citizenship, all six CHARACTER COUNTS! pillars are celebrated this month. I encourage you to engage in activities where you and your children can display and focus on any of the pillars. I sign off with our mission this month to echo the importance of the six pillars: The SJCSD will inspire good character and a passion for lifelong learning in all students, creating educated and caring contributors to the world.
