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The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday A ugust 20, 2003 - C3 Parents - are you ready for back to school? (NC)-- The lazy, hazy days o f summer are almost over and it's time to start preparing for back to school. "Believe it or not-- it is just as important for parents to be prepared for back to school as it is for children," says educational specialist Dr. Andrea Pastorok. "Parents who are well pre pared. excited and enthusiastic show their children that heading back to class can be fun, making back to school something to look forward to." Dr. Pastorok suggests the fol lowing ways parents can help make the transition from sum mer holidays to the classroom a little easier: 1. C reate a calen d ar for the school year While you are out back to school shopping, pick up a large calendar that you can hang above your children's study area. Even if both you and your chil dren use a day planner meticu lously. a common wall calendar can help everyone see things in the long term. A dry-erase calen dar can be helpful because it's easy to move things around if a deadline or appointment changes. Together with your children: Write in the after-school extra curricular activities that your children have signed up to participate in. Establish when your chil dren's daily hom ework time should take place. Homework will inevitably take place at dif ferent times on many days but it is important to ensure there is a specific time slot for homework each day. By marking home- CANADIAN "" f.w T im -- m _ _ _ _ _ _ · I: I r t r f ; fij% |jE j|jp a work time on the calendar, you are giving it the same impor tance as external appointments. Once the school year starts, slot in assignm ents, project deadlines, tests, appointments, etc. 2. Be know ledgeable about the upcom ing school y ear and add these dates to y our calen d a r; Teachers' Professional Activity days - school is usually closed on these days Tests/provincial assess ments Report cards Winter break March break Statutory holidays Information nights Parent/teacher nights 3. Set up a study area for y our children Prior to the start of school, set up a study area with your chil dren. While it is important to involve your children in this process, it is your responsibility as a parent to create a study area that is: Free of distractions Quiet, clean and well-ventilated with minimal traffic Well-lit Comfortable Equipped with necessary school supplies 4. A nticipate areas where your children will need extra help It is important for parents to understand where their chil dren's weaknesses are and address them at the beginning of the year so that they don't fall behind. Some parents, may want to hire an individual tutor or enroll their children in one of the many after-school educational programs. This will help stu dents strengthen their skills in the areas where they are having difficulties. Having fun with your chil dren while planning for back to school will help parents and children alike get excited about the fall. - News Canada to the Royal Ontario Golf Club __ * An TR AFALG AR ROAD 400 Dundas St. East · (905) 2 5 7 -TIR E S T O R EH O U R S : Mon. -Fri. 8:00am-9pm · Sat. 8:00am-7:00pm · Sun. 9am-6pm WsSKjagy ^ 1^ 1 ;` O A K T O W N S H O P P IN G PLAZA 550 K e rr S tre e t 4 · (9 0 5 ) 8 4 4 -0 2 0 2 S T O R EH O U R S : Mon. -Fri. 8:00am-9pm · Sat. 8:00am-7:00pm · Sun. 9am-6pm ^ROYAI O N T A R IOG O L FC L U BG IV E A W A Yj , R e tu rnth is B a llo t to ^ , Canadian Tire, for I your chance to 4 I T " ^ O N T A R IO " g q lf CLUB GIVEAWAY W II 1 |y J 1 ' p o s s e stoth eR o ya l ' qflm j O n tario G o lf C lu b 1 Address:_ ! I ! 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Z ! 1 ] _ * Draw to be held I Saturday, Aug. 31 L I - « _ - Fast tips make packing school lunches a snap (NC)-- The end of summer means saying goodbye to the relaxing days spent at the beach or picnics in the park, and saying hello to the busy schedules o f the school year. It also means for some parents the challenge o f packing school lunches that are nutritious, safe and, most importantly, that kids will eat! Here are some easy tips that will make packing lunch a breeze. "C ool" L unch - Pack a cold source in the lunch bags to help keep lunches cool until eaten. The drink will thaw by lunchtime and provide kids with a cold, refreshing beverage. ·Plan A head - To save time in the m orning, pack lunches the night before. Make a week's worth o f sand wiches on Sunday and freeze them for weekday lunches. G ra b and G o - For added conven ience. buy ready-to-eat foods in individual-sized portions. Another option is to buy foods in bulk size and then separate them out into smaller portions in fun. reusable containers for kids to take to school. Involve th e K ids -/To try and ensure kids eat their lunches, get them involved in the planning and packing. Kids are more likely to eat food that they choose. H ave F un - Go shopping with your child to pick out an insulated lunch box or container that he or she will enjoy carrying to school. S nack Tim e! - Kids need some thing quick and fun to keep them going between meals. Pack a banana and a chocolate pudding so that kids can dip the banana and enjoy a tasty and healthy "fondue". - News C anada JOIN US AT THE 15TH ANNUAL O L /IIe a ltliy Lifestyle A n d Travel S h ow p ie s o c t e d it: SEPTEMBER 5 & 6, 2003 M etro Toronto C onvention Centre SHOW FEATURES: 255 FRONT ST. 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