Tips for Keeping Kids Healthier during Spring Break

Spring break is a time of freedom that all kids need to reset for those last few weeks of school. Many kids want to sit around and play video games or watch television the entire break, but that’s not a healthy choice. Keeping kids moving during spring break maintains good health and gives moms and dads the opportunity to get a little exercise in as well.
Get off the couch and out into the sunlight. Not only is sitting around on the couch all day not a form of exercise, it keeps kids and adults out of the sun. Sunlight causes a chemical reaction in the body that creates vitamin D. Sure, milk is a good source of vitamin D, but kids and adults cannot drink enough milk or eat enough vitamin fortified food to measure up to the amount of vitamin D the body produces in just 15 minutes of direct sunlight.
Take the time to learn something new and stay active. Spring break is also a great time to start a new activity that doubles as family fun.

If you care staying in town check out the local Parks and Recreation Services for family activities to enjoy...

Phenix City City Parks and Recreation

400 8th St, Columbus, GA 31901 » Map (334) 291-4723

Kelly Hill Recreation Ctr

9079 Marne Rd, Fort Benning, GA 31905 » Map (706) 544-3079

Fort Benning Directorate of Family Morale Welfare and Recreation

2783 Eckel Ave, Fort Benning, GA 31905 » Map (706) 687-6648

Phenix City City Parks and Recreation

400 8th St, Columbus, GA 31901 » Map (334) 291-4723

Columbus Parks & Rec

1835 Riverland Dr, Columbus, GA 31903 » Map (706) 687-5813

Tips for Helping Your Child With Homework

Here are a few general tips to help you help your child with homework.

1. Make sure your child has a quiet, well-lit place to work. Make sure it is away from the television set and other distractions.
2. Make sure your child has the supplies he or she needs—paper, pencils, a dictionary, and a computer.
3. Establish a set time for your child to do homework each day. Plan together when extra time will be needed for big assignments such as research reports.
4. Show that you value homework by doing your own homework. For example, if your child is reading a book for language arts class, you can read a book, too.
5. Help by providing guidance and encouragement, not answers. Your child won't learn unless he or she actually does the work.
6. Talk with your child's teacher to ensure that you understand the goals of homework assignments and any special requirements your child will need to meet.
7. Help your child set priorities. Help your child determine which assignments are more challenging than others and do them first—when he or she is freshest and most alert.
8. Watch for signs of fatigue or frustration. Let your child take a short break if needed.
9. Celebrate success. Reward your child for working hard with an occasional special treat—a pizza or a trip to the park, for example.

IPad Tips and Tricks

If you have an ipad here are some neat short cuts and things you can try…

iPad Tips and Tricks
1.Quick Email Delete - Quickly delete an email message by swiping over it in your inbox. This work in Notes and other apps too. *** Managing-
At the present time, there aren’t many options for managing the email you acquire on your iPad Email. You can’t create your own organizational folders just yet. So, the best way to stay organized is to delete items once you know you won’t need them, or forward them to a different email account to store them, away from your default account’s Inbox.

2. Cap Locks - Double-click the shift button (up arrow) on the keyboard to Lock the capital letters

3. Quick Number - To quickly insert a number from the alpha keyboard, hold down the number button and then drag to the number. You will return to the alpha keyboard.

4. Hidden Apostrophe Key on the Keyboard - This is a great tip for any app, like Notes, Pages or Mail, that you type into using the iPad's virtual keyboard. Rather than having to go to the second screen of the keyboard every time you want to type an apostrophe (which is a real pain) just tap and hold on the ! key and a hidden apostrophe option will appear - then just slide your finger up to access it.

5. Add Alternate Extensions - Change the URL extension in Safari by holding down the .com button.

6. Capture iPad Screen - Hold down the home button and the Sleep/Wake Button at the same time. This will capture the screen and save it in your Photos.

7. Go Home! - No matter which screen you are on, tapping the Home button will take you immediately to your Home Screen.

8. Add Extra Apps to Your Tray - There are four apps in the iPad's Dock (the shelf along the bottom of the Home Screen) by default, but you can have up to six apps here for quick access. Press and hold any icon on the Home Screen until the icons start to wobble, then drag two more apps to your Dock.

9. Save Time Using Spotlight - Instead of wading hopelessly through your music library looking for that one song you want, or endlessly hacking through your Contacts. It's much quicker to make use of the Spotlight search - it can search both iPod and Contacts. Flick right on the Home screen to access Spotlight search, or press the Home button. It also works for launching apps.

10. Redefine your iPad Home Button - Double-clicking the Home button takes you to the home screen by default, but you can redefine its action in General - Home. To help save you time you can set it to bring up Spotlight search or the iPod application.

11. Add a Web Page to the iPad Home Screen - If you visit a web page frequently then save time ponderously locating it in your Safari bookmarks by adding it as an icon to your Home screen. Tap the + icon in Safari then tap "Add to Home Screen".

12. Use the Magnifying Glass - You're entering text but you realize you've made a mistake a couple of lines back. You either fumble about with your finger trying to get back to the exact place, or you use the magnifying glass. Touch and hold your finger in the right area and the magnifying glass appears, enabling you to fine tune your insertion point.

13. Password Protection - You can password-protect apps like iTunes so that a family member can't buy every U2 record with your credit card. Go to Settings, then General, then Restrictions. Press Enable Restrictions and type a password, then turn on the restrictions you want for the apps available. Note that this password is different from your iTunes password - you'll need to tap in both.

14. Copy and Paste - You can quickly copy and paste text by holding down, then tapping Copy, then going to a different window, and holding down and tapping Paste. To select a paragraph of text tap four times.

15. Lock Screen Orientation- Go to Settings, General, Switch "Slide Switch" to Lock

16. Screenshots- You can take a screenshot on your iPad by pressing Home and then the Sleep/Wake button. The screen will flash and you'll hear a click, indicating that a photo has been taken. Your screen shots are saved automatically in your Photos gallery. Here, you can view or email them as you see fit

Sherri O. McKendree

Loyd Educational Technologist

706-544-8976 or 706-442-0231

sherri.mckendree@am.dodea.edu or fizzpro@aol.com

Orthopaedic surgeons offer tips to steer clear of injuries from backpacks

Choosing the Right Backpack

The correct use of both of the wide, well-padded shoulder straps will help distribute the weight of the backpack.

When choosing a backpack, look for some of the following features.

• Wide, padded shoulder straps

• Two shoulder straps

• Padded back

• Waist strap

• Lightweight backpack

• Rolling backpack

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Injury Prevention

Always use both shoulder straps. Tighten the straps so that the pack is close to the body.

To prevent injury when using a backpack, do the following:

• Always use both shoulder straps

• Tighten the straps

• Pack light

• Organize

• Remove items

• Lift properly

• Build muscle strength

Tips for Parents

Parents also can help.

• Encourage your child or teenager to tell you about pain or discomfort that may be caused by a heavy backpack.
• Do not ignore any back pain in a child or teenager.
• Talk to the school about lightening the load.
• Be sure the school allows students to stop at their lockers throughout the day. Team up with other parents to encourage changes.
• If your child has back pain that does not improve, consider buying a second set of textbooks to keep at home.

Healthy Snacks for Busy Families!

Being a mom, you know what it's like to always be on the go, go, go! You may be picky about what your kids eat, but do you always pay attention to what you eat? These delicious and super-easy snacks will keep you satisfied and on track all day long. Jam packed with vitamins and minerals, these easy-to-grab goodies will give you (and your kids) the energy you need to get through the busy day.

Read more on FamilyEducation: http://recipes.familyeducation.com/slideshow/mothers/58338.html#ixzz1QhFOF0m8

Help DoDEA Design 21st Century Schools!

DoDEA IS ASKING FOR YOUR IDEAS ON LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS IN THE FUTURE

The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) is seeking your insight and ideas on how future learning environments are designed, constructed and furnished.

In January of 2011, President Barack Obama released a report (Strengthening our Military Families) that identified education as one of his key areas.  Complementing this initiative, the Department of Defense has committed to an ambitious military construction program that will build or significantly renovate over 100 DoDEA schools. From now until 2016, this modernization initiative will replace an aging inventory of facilities with state-of-the-art schools to support dependent education for the next 45 years. 

School districts across the nation, including DoDEA, are facing major facility challenges due largely to the aging infrastructure and the related costs. Providing a safe, secure and educationally appropriate facility for all military children is a critical responsibility for DoDEA.

Parents and community members are invited to share ideas at: http://21stcentury.dodea.edu/. 

“We really need input from our students, parents and the community to help design educational facilities that optimize success for students in the 21st Century,” said Fitzgerald. “Our schools need to support the teaching and learning process in a way that helps our children grow and learn in the 21st Century."

Submissions can be in the form of videos, images, written narratives or audio files. All student work must be submitted by a teacher using the established Intranet site to ensure adult moderation. 

The site provides registration information, guiding questions, and the process for submitting ideas electronically. 

DoDEA has established a three phase plan entitled, Facilities for 21^st Century Learning. Phase 1, which has already occurred, brought together experts from industry, educational leaders, and futurists.  Phase 2 focuses on receiving ideas and input from you, our customers.  Phase 3 will involve a thorough analysis and synthesis of all submitted ideas and input. 

“We are seeing dramatic changes in how students communicate, interact, and learn,” said DoDEA Acting Director Marilee Fitzgerald. “School facilities of the future must be flexible and adaptable, allowing us to adjust to deliver student-centric education for a 21^st century, knowledge-based economy.”

DoDEA will take innovations in education, curriculum delivery, use of technology, and the growing expectations for sustainability and energy conservation into consideration as the process moves forward.  

The deadline for submission is June 16.  Don’t miss this opportunity to influence the future of education within DoDEA. Visit the site today at: http://21stcentury.dodea.edu/. 

Free Parent Summer Activity Guides!

To help keep K-5 students from forgetting what they learned in school this summer vacation, the folks at Tech4Learning are giving away guides for parents which include specific and practical Pixie activities across the curriculum to do at home with their child. 

Each guide helps parents:
  • Support learning at home through fun, curriculum-related activities,
  • View important curriculum concepts covered at each grade,
  • Build stronger relationships with their child with collaborative projects.
Explore the guides!
Special Offer for Parents
For a limited time, parents are also eligible for a nearly 50% discount on single copies of Pixie, Frames, Share, and ImageBlender! Parents simply visit their online store and select the products they wish to order and enter HUCLV100 as the discount on the checkout page. 
We hope the Parent Guides will help you make this summer a perfect learning vacation!
PS – We encourage you to explore the guides yourself and forward this email out to parents!