The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

D6 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, September 15, 1999 FALL INSTRU CTION/BACK TO SCHOOL Maintaining control o f the Internet experience Stepping up and looking ahead Cybersafety Surfing the Web has become a favorite family pastime. Children and parents can explore the world with just a click of the mouse. Yet, it's important that parents maintain control of the Internet experience. In this day and age, there are just too many sites popping up that may not be appropriate venues for their children to visit. So, how does a parent control something as vast as the Internet? By practicing Cypersafety, say Mark Ivey and Ralph Bond, the PC Dads, and authors of the PC Dads Guide to Becoming a Computer Smart Parent, (Dell Trade Paperbacks, 1999). Cybersafety, say the PC Dads, involves a few simple tips that allow parents to get up to speed on computers and the Internet. This can help manage their kids' activities online. Here's what the Dads have to say Put your computer in an accessible area, like the living room - "If the computer is tucked away into a child's bedroom, you'll never know what they're doing. Keep it in the living room, and you'll pass by enough times in the day to glance at their online activities," explains Ivey. Establish house rules - Set up online parental controls to what your child has access to on the Web; also look into service providers that mon­ itor chat rooms and block out objectionable Web sites. Limit the time your child spends on the computer, and ask their friend's parents about their House Rules. There are also filters from groups such as the Anti-Defamation League that block out hate related Web addresses. Observe what they're doing - If your child is spending hours each day playing violent com­ puter games, you need to look at this as a warn­ ing sign. Be a P.I. - If you think your kid is spending time in chat rooms that are directed to violence, racist or hatred content, affirm your hunch. You can check the computer's browser to see where your kid has been online. While this crosses the line of privacy, if you think your child has seri­ ous emotional problems, it's better to find out and get help, rather than ignore these digital hints. There's even surveillance software that tracks every place your child has been on the Internet. Review your child's online profiles - (these are popular on AOL). You can find these by sim­ ply doing a search. They might contain warning signs, or they may divulge too much informa­ tion, like one California girl's password which was especially naive: "Alicial5" - her name and age. Her parents promptly made her change it. Practice shoulder-to-shoulder parenting - Spend time with your kids on the computer to direct them to explore their interests; also guide them to positive experiences on the Internet. The computer should not be used as an elec­ tronic babysitter. "You wouldn't knowingly send your kid into the street without any guidance or tips. Yet mil­ lions of parents may be letting their kids loose on the Internet without any guidance or direc­ tion," says Bond. All of this overshadows the fact that the Internet can be a treasure trove of wonderful information and resources. But parents need to get up to speed and help manage the experience for their kids. The PC Dads Guide to Becoming a Computer Smart Parent, (Dell Trade Paperbacks, 1999) can be purchased at Indigo bookstores nationwide. - News Canada Your Career As A Professional Chef Begins with Apprenticeship Approved Courses Basic Cook Diploma 15 weeks Advanced Cook Diploma 15 weeks Hospitality Admin. Diploma 20 weeks Hours from cook diplomas can be applied fo Inter Provincial Red Seal • Train with professionally qualified chefs Financial assistance may be available Call now for September & October classes! Mississougo: 905-276-5956 , Hwy. 5 & 10 Dvndas & Hur Ontario V is i t o u r w e b s i t e a t : w w w . l ia i s o n c o l l e g e . c o m Back to School! Wliatev er subject we teach, success is learned. 1155 North Service Rd. Unit #7 Oakville 469-6440 Sylvan Learning C entre® Success is learned www.educate.com Feading W riting Math Study Skills College and University Prep (NC) -- Starting high school is an exciting time. Students will have many new opportuni­ ties and new challenges. Beginning in 1999, new standards for education will be introduced in high schools across Ontario. There will be another big change as well: like students in other provinces, students in Ontario will com­ plete high school in four years instead of five. The new high school program will be intro­ duced in grade 9 in September 1999 and will be phased in over the following three years in the higher grades. R e c o g n iz in g s tu d e n ts ' in d iv id u a lity The new program recognizes that students enter high school with different strengths, inter­ ests, and goals. Now, students will be able to select courses that suit their needs and that take them gradually towards their goals through an increasingly specialized four-year program. In addition to the challenging new curricu­ lum, Ontario's new standards for high school will now provide greater opportunities for cooperative education, work experience, and apprenticeship training. There will also be a new requirement for community involvement to help students explore and expand their interests, and to pre­ pare them for responsible citizenship. Ontario's new standards for high school have been developed in consultation with teachers, parents, employers, and representatives from colleges and universities to ensure that stu­ dents' education is relevant to today's changing world. Throughout high school, students will be working with their parents and a teacher to help them make their course selections and to devel­ op an annual education plan. Preparing the plan will help them develop their interests and iden­ tify future educational and career opportunities. It will ensure that they are taking the courses they need to progress smoothly through high school and towards their goals. The new standards for high school are designed to ensure that students receive an excellent education. An Ontario education will be their passport to jobs, hope, opportunity, and growth in the twenty-first century. Healthy eating for children Leads to healthy lives There's good news and bad news about chil­dren's health reports the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) in a recent newsletter. "First, the good news: children generally have a healthy attitude about food and seem to be eating well. The not-so-good news is that obesity is emerging as a problem, likely because they are starving for exercise," says NIN president Suzanne Hendricks. Kids' perceptions On the plus side, eating is among children's favourite activities, according to a Health Canada survey reported in RAPPORT. Kids give them­ selves good marks when asked to evaluate their eating habits but have some trouble seeing the big­ ger nutrition picture. Like many of the adults whose views they mirror, they tend to label foods as "good" or "bad." Fruits, vegetables and milk score high marks as healthy, or "good" foods. Children enjoy foods like chocolate and chips that are not part of the four food groups, but label them as "bad" foods. This polarized view makes it difficult for them to truly evaluate their total eating pattern. What's more, grains are overlooked as an impor­ tant part of healthy eating. According to Health Canada's sur­ vey, parents have the greatest influence on what kids eat. To reinforce balance, variety and moderation, they can help their children think of foods as being "everyday" and "sometimes" foods. The everyday foods are found in the four food groups; the sometimes foods are treats like chocolate, chips and pop-to be enjoyed occasionally. Because many children spend at least some time home alone, parents should provide tasty, nutritious snacks that are accessible, such as oat­ meal cookies, crunchy cereals, yogourt or fruit. TV advertising, another influence on children, can be turned into a learning experience by helping BERTIN STABL1 Open 7 days a week year round 1 1/2 miles west of Hwy. #25 on North side D undas W. (Hwy. #5) Oakville 8 2 7 -4 6 7 8 website www.bertinstables.com e-m ail: bertin@ webtv.net children think about how the ads they see influ­ ence their view of a product. The real nutrition picture Nutrition data on children are scarce, high­ lighting the importance of a recent survey related to Ontario's Better Beginnings, Better Futures program. It suggests that children from low- income Ontario families are starving mainly for exercise. Despite low energy intakes, many of the children were obese, reports Susan Evers, Ph.D., of the University of Guelph, in RAPPORT. School-age children were less active than preschoolers, suggesting that when days are spent in school, activity patterns change for the worse. Furthermore, although most nutrients were ade­ quate, calcium intake seemed low among the school-age children. "These findings are disturbing because excess weight and low bone density cause serious health problems in the long term," says Hendricks. "It is time for people to merge nutrition and fitness together in their minds as inseparable parts of a healthy lifestyle equation." A recent World Health Organization survey confirms the trend toward lack of activity. One quarter of the 11 to 15 year- old Canadian girls surveyed said that outside of school, they were active only 1/2 hour per week or less. Watching television was a popular pastime among the girls and boys, with one quarter in front of the tube at least 4 hours a day. Community involvement The environment in which children grow up has an important influence on their lifelong habits. "Parents should demand that schools not only teach children about nutrition in the classroom, but also commit to health policies that make healthy eating and daily physical activity an inte­ gral part of the school environment," states Hendricks. Communities across the country are responding to address local issues, reports RAPPORT. "Such programs can build children's self-esteem while improving their nutritional health and fitness, by developing their skills and recognizing their achievements," explains Doris Gillis, the nutrition con­ sultant who conducted the review. Information courtesy o f the Rational Institute o f Nutrition. _ ^ O ikville Beaver n nRestaurant Poll Oakville is a town noted fo r its restaurants.We have more great restaurants per capita than virtually any other community in Canada! We also have an appropriately discriminating collective palate. We accept only the best. But what is the best? We thought w e'd ask you, our readers, to tell us w ho you think is the best, in our annual Reader's Restaurant PolL After all, you're the folks w ho vote with your taste buds... and your dollars. Please take a moment to fill in the questionnaire below and return it to The Oakville Beaver. Y O U C O U L D W I N D I N N E R F O R T W O A T O N I - : O F O A K V I L L E 'S F A V O U R I T E D I N I N G S P O T S ! / : / / / « ' / - T f t t l t t y f I DINE OUT APPROXIMATELY: (Check One). (That Certain Something a Once/W eek □ More than Twice/Week TELL US WHICH SPOTS OFFER THE BEST IN THESE CATEGORIES: n Twice/W eek O Twice/M onth O Less than Twice/Month o Ten+ Times/Month |Quick Bite ____________ |Dining with the Kids iMost Original Cuisine. fBest Service _________ |Most Unusual Decor |Best View ___________ i 1 Best Happy Hour Best Wine List _ Friendliest Spot _ Best Ambiance Best New Restaurant Italian __________ Indian ________ Iserman/Austrian WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE EATERY IN EACH OF THE FOLLOWING ETHNIC OPTIONS. Greek _________________________ Continental Exotic Ethnic British Pub pest Pizza best Breakfast__________ ^est Brunch -- Smorg. _ Best After-Theatre Spot Best Desserts __________ best Salads __________ est Seafood __________ FANCY A PIZZA? A BURGER? A BIG, THICK STEAK? TELL US WHERE YOU HEAD FOR ... Best Steak ________________________ Best Specialty Food Shop Best Sandwiches__________ Best Cup of Coffee _______ Best Wings _______________ Best Fish & Chips. Best Ribs ______ My Favourite Restaurant O verall is: ______________________ T he Most Important Feature of My Restaurant is: _____________________ W hat D id W e Forget?: DINNER FOR TWO CONTEST BALLOT N a m e : . A d d r e s s : P h o n e N u m b e r : M a il to : R estaurant P oll c/o T he Oakville Beaver 467 S p e e r s R o a d O a k v i l l e , O N L6K-3S4 J l 4 i http://www.liaisoncollege.com http://www.educate.com http://www.bertinstables.com mailto:bertin@webtv.net FALL INSTRU CTION/BACK TO SCHOOL Cybersafety Here's what the Dads have to say 1155 North Service Rd. Unit #7 Oakville 469-6440 www.educate.com BERTIN STABL1 Restaurant Poll