august 19, 2011 back to school
DESCRIPTION
Complete August 19, 2011 issue of Back to SchoolTRANSCRIPT
promotional feature
OAK BAYNEWSVICTORIANEWSSAANICHNEWS
Parents’Back toSchool Guide
Friday, August 19, 2011Special Supplement to:
8 PAGE SPECIALSECTION
Get the school year off to a good startBy Jennifer Blyth
Wondering how to get your young-ster off to a good start this school year?
“The best advice I would have is for parents to talk with their kids about the upcoming year – fears, things they are looking forward too, what they might learn, etc.,” says local teacher Mel Pos-tle, an elementary teacher for 20 years.
It might also help for parents to think back and talk about their own experiences at that grade.
Practically speaking, continue to spend time reading with kids over the summer, get organized, get your school supplies and spend time together put-
ting kids’ names on them. Whether it’s a child’s first time enter-
ing the classroom or he or she has done the back-to-school thing a few times, having a few jitters isn’t uncommon.
However a few simple steps can help.
• It’s important for parents and stu-dents to get back into the school swing of things a few weeks before the first day of school. Start setting alarm clocks for the hour at which kids will have to get up, and get them in the habit of rising from bed and starting the day. Walk or bike the route to school, or find out where the school bus stop may be – you’ll also see how much time is
needed to get ready in the morning!• Mention school frequently. Be-
gin talking about school and what you need to prepare, talk about see-ing friends, extracurricular activities and other favourite elements. Hearing about school frequently can reduce feelings of anxiety.
• Don’t be nervous. Children often look to their parents for guidelines. A parent who is overly nervous or sad about the first day of school could make their kids nervous, too.
• Be prepared. Lay out clothes, get a good night’s rest and set the alarm clock. Preparation can ease the mind of parents and students.
What do you do when the kids go
back to school?
“I try to catch up with friends and ride my horse. I have
problems fitting these in when the kids are out of school.”
– Saanich mom Sheena Jensen
Getting into a back-to-school routine early can help ease first-day jitters.
Langford-Westshore 103 - 721 Station RoadLangford, BC V9B 2S1250–474-4175
Saanich 204 - 3965 Quadra StreetVictoria, BC V8X 1J8250-479-1800
©2011 Kumon Canada Inc.
Imagine… not just raising grades, but realizing potential.REACH HIGHER WITH KUMON MATH AND READING.
Realizing your child’s potential means more than bringing home a good report card. With Kumon, he goes as far as his ability takes him — even to advanced study, so he can be truly amazing.
Lighthouse Academy of Dance
250.595.8705
Pure, Pleasing, PositiveSUMMER SCHOOLAug 29th - Sept 2nd Ages 4 - 6, 12+ (Age 7-11 full)
Fall registration & info• Royal Roads Sept 1st & 2nd 6 - 8pm
• Victoria Bayanihan on Blanshard Aug 31st 5.45 - 6.45pm
RAD Ballet, ISTD Modern, Jazz & Tap, Musical Theatre, Creative, Contemporary Age 2 - AdultQualifi ed expert teachers, fun classes, great results
Back toSchoolParents’8 PAGE SPECIALSECTION
Guide
OrGanizatiOn While parents are often involved in
their children’s elementary schools, there’s a natural tendency to take a step back when entering first middle, then second-ary school.
And for many parents, “you’re darned if you do and darned if you don’t” when it comes to whether or not they should be inquisitive about their child’s educational progress, says Belmont Secondary’s Paul Bendall, who teaches English and AVID – Advancement Via Individual Determi-nation, a college preparatory system for learners who have post-secondary poten-tial and desire but need help with areas such as organization and writing skills.
The problem for parents can be two-fold: Getting involved, setting high ex-pectations, seeking progress reports, and pushing to get homework done can seem like nagging and lack of trust. However, if you take a back seat and let them rise or fail based on their own whim and motiva-tion, you don’t care.
“The cautionary note on the latter is that adolescent children seem to make riskier personal decisions if they think their parents don’t care,” Bendall says, adding that “in the end, it’s best to stay involved, establish the most effective way
to make contact with teacher(s), whether email or phone, and chat with children about their progress at school on a regular basis.”
The use of planners – often initiated in the elementary school years – can help middle and high school students enor-mously. Expect children to write down assignments and due dates. Establish the habit of checking your child’s agenda ev-ery few nights. If no homework is noted for several weeks, “this should raise a red flag — check with the teacher for a prog-ress report,” Bendall suggests.
When launching the discussion at home, if you’re not getting the right an-swers to “do you have homework?” change the question.
Instead ask, “How are you planning on spending your study hour (or half hour)?”
Bendall suggests establishing a regular time and place for students to sit down in a study hall-like session – several one-hour sessions a week would definitely help. “They can still do homework the other nights, but this way you guarantee something will be done. If your child pro-fesses to no homework, have them review (or rewrite if illegible) their notes and
quiz themselves, look for and finish those half-done assignments from last week, or-ganize their binder, or teach a concept to yourself or a sibling.”
If possible, establish a routine when it comes to the study session and locate it away from distractions like the television, computer, cell phones, loud siblings, or a bed: “it’s for sleeping, not studying and your body knows it.”
To help keep students organized, consid-er using one master binder for all of sub-jects, which avoids the claim, “I brought home the wrong book.” Have a filing cabi-net or box where students can place work and assignments they have removed from their binder when cleaning it out monthly or bi-monthly. “Do not recycle or throw anything out as incomplete assignments are often in the mix of purged papers. For students on a semester system, storing notes allows for end of term review prior to exams as well,” Bendall advises.
“In short, for students entering middle or high school, organization is the bug-bear. Using a planner or agenda, keeping a master binder while establishing study session times and staying involved are all strategies to help keep students on track to a successful school year.”
is key for middle and high schoolers
August 22nd
$99 + HST *Now till end of year
Call early to reserveContact a location nearest you:Henderson Rec Centre, Monterey Rec CentreBrenda Richardson | 250-598-0830 | [email protected] Saanich Royal Oak Women’s Institute, Lakeview Christian SchoolDonna Anderson | 250-885-7495 | [email protected] St Margaret’s School, Dansko Dance StudioLaura Uppal | 250-744-4078 | [email protected] Burnside Campus Gym, Shoreline Community School, John Stubbs School Gym, Westshore Parks & RecVicki Waters | 250-474-6602 | [email protected] Metchosin Community Hall, West Mont School, Edward Milne Community School, Journey Middle School, Sooke LegionMandy Webb | 250-474-6884 | [email protected]
www.jazzercise.com*Pricing for new customers only
DAYSALE1
*Denotes Optometric Corporation
BACK TO SCHOOL CHECK LIST
DR. CHARLES
SIMONS*DR. STEPHEN
TAYLOR*Mayfair Optometric Clinic 3196 Douglas Street
361-4444Saanich Optometry 119-3995 Quadra Street
744-2992
Saanich Optometry
119-3995 Quadra St.
744-2992
DR. VICTOR J. CHIN*Mayfair
OptometricClinic
3196 Douglas St.
361-4444
DR. RACHEL
RUSHFORTH*Admirals Walk
Optometry Clinic106-1505 Admirals Rd.
995-0449
DR. PAULNEUMANN
Central SaanichOptometry Clinic
#1-7865 Patterson Rd.
544-2210
DR. HELENMARTINDALE
325-1207 DouglasSayward Bldg.
361-4478
DR. NEIL
PATERSON
DR. TREVOR PEDDLE
DR. ANN-MARIE
STEWART
South Island Optometry 1910 Sooke Rd. 478-6811 3994 Shelbourne St. 477-4711
DR. CHRISTOPHER
SNOW
DR. BRENT
MORRISON
DR. SARA BUCKLEY
Oak BayOptometry Clinic
100-2067 Cadboro Bay Rd
595-8500
Should include a visit to an Optometrist Convenient and close to home Call Now to Book an Appointment
Healthy Eyes, Doctor Delivered
Encourage students to use a planner to stay organized and on top of assignments.
B2 • Back to School Friday, August 19, 2011 - VICTORIA NEWS • OAK BAY NEWS • SAANICH NEWS • GOLDSTREAM NEWS GAZETTE • PENINSULA NEWS REVIEW
Back toSchoolParents 8 PAGE SPECIALSECTION
Guide
By Jennifer Blyth
Good study habits start with an organized study space.
The first step? “Designate a location that is conducive to studying and ensure that you have adequate lighting and a comfortable chair,” advises Saija Tissari, of Ducks in a Row Organizing.
Organizing your space is next.“Make sure you have a good sized surface to work on
that is clear of clutter,” Tissari says. Begin by separating the desk and drawer clutter into
three piles:• toss old paper into recycling and trash dried-up
pens etc.;• store things that you want to hang onto but don’t
really need, such as notebooks from previous courses;• keep everything that you need to have at your fin-
gertips for current courses in some organized manner.To help keep your class work organized, start by
categorizing work by course – colour-coding or labels may help.
Once classes start, keep a handle on the related “stuff” by using trays to contain clutter. “They conserve space on your work surface and make your papers eas-ily accessible,” Tissari says. Categorize the trays by class and separate supplies on your desk by using a sectioned desk tray for pens, paper clips and other tools.
When sitting down to work and study, eliminate dis-tractions – no cellphones or text messaging and close Facebook, Skype and other networking programs.
On your computer, organize your files and have a clutter-free digital desktop. Name documents using a consistent system, such as the course abbreviation, as-signment name and date. Create folders for each term and in these folders create a folder for each course.
Finally, file old documents into appropriate course folders, Tissari advises.
magazine holder, HomeSense, $12.99
Clear acrylic desk chair, Home outfitters, $69.99
ladder-style bookcase, Home outfitters, $69.99
foldable ottoman, Home outfitters, $19.99
four-cube wire shelf, Canadian tire, $31.99 Corkboard, HomeSense, $19.99
Debbie travis Silver Desk Clock, Canadian tire, $19.99
Storage boxes, HomeSense, $9.99
Bookends, HomeSense, $14.99
New & Used Toys, Clothing & Furniture2024 Oak Bay Ave • 250 595 1613
Back to School
Lunch BoxesBackpacks
Water BottlesNew & Used Clothing
from newborn to size 12Shoes
2024 Oak Bay Ave250 595 1613
www.abra-kid-abra.com
Abra-Kid-Abra
Shop Early for best selection
DebBA History, E.EdBC Certifi ed Teacher
250-888-4123
Grade 9,10 & 11 • Social Studies
Prep for Unit Tests, • Provincial exam
Structuring, proof reading, • editing essays
Private or group tutoring • in your home
Free consultation•
Tutor Teacher Certifi ed
Gotta Sing!
Nicholas Fairbank Artistic Director
For a placement interview/audition:[email protected]
250.472.2655
achoirs.ca
kids having fun!
www.vivachoirs.ca
Ages 7–17
Now Holding Wait ListCall to inquire about spaces.
Ages 30 months
to 5 years
Lexie Biegun (owner)1931 Millstream Road
(Beside Bear Mountain)
www.lexieslittlebears.com250-590-3603
Tamara Dalrymple, M.A., R.C.C.
Registered Clinical Counsellor and Consultant
Specializing in counselling services for children and youth
• Trauma • Anxiety • Depression • Grief/Loss
[email protected]#201-2187 Oak Bay Avenue
Koala Consulting Services for Children
250-479-6424
• On going Registration • Classes - boys & girls ages 20 mths & up • Beginner through Advanced
208-721 Vanalman Ave (Broadmead + Royal Oak area)
Register now www.falcongymnastics.com
The best birthday parties in town
with the air mountain foam pit
and many more fun activities.
Victoria 250-382-7000Westshore 250-391-4324
Sooke 250-642-5152
Your communities’ Best sourcefor Child Care Resources and Referrals
ccrrChild Care Resource & Referral
IDSIsland Dance StudioRegistration for fall classes on now
Ballet Classes for kids ages 3+ • KindercreativeAdult jazz & yoga
Artistic Director Bleiddyn Bellis FISTD (Cecchetti)250.532.1244 • [email protected]
www.islanddancestudio.com643 Broughton Street
Study Smart: skills to set up your study space
VICTORIA NEWS • OAK BAY NEWS • SAANICH NEWS • GOLDSTREAM NEWS GAZETTE • PENINSULA NEWS REVIEW - Friday, August 19, 2011 Back to School • B3
Dwight International School
track!
on the
Get
“Dwight”
Introducing Theatre Arts and Dance ProgrammesDwight plans to make the arts a major focus this year by introducing Theatre and Dance programmes in the fall. New Principal, Tim Crofton will be leading the theatre classes and legendary Victoria dance instructor (and owner of STAGES Dance Studio), Kim Breiland, will lead the dance programme. Dwight also has plans to establish an international choir and band at the school in the fall.
Offering Bus Service from
the WestshoreOnly a 20 minute drive from campus!
Expeditionary learning model for grades 6, 7 and 8
Come discover your spark!
2371 Shawnigan Lake Road, Shawnigan Lake, BC • 250-929-0506 • [email protected] • www.dwightinternational.com
B4 • Back to School Friday, August 19, 2011 - VICTORIA NEWS • OAK BAY NEWS • SAANICH NEWS • GOLDSTREAM NEWS GAZETTE • PENINSULA NEWS REVIEW
By Jennifer Blyth
For many families, September is the true new year – new school, new rou-tines, new sports and more.
After a leisurely summer, families are suddenly greeted with hectic schedules and new commitments that can send nutrition and family meals out the window.
However, it doesn’t have to be that way.
Chef Dwayne MacIsaac, who teaches cooking classes in the community and offers ideas and inspiration on his blog, passioneatfoods.com, shared a few ideas on keeping good, nutritious food part of the fall routine.
First, look at what’s on hand and in season at the market – which can offer both inspiration and cost savings.
Coming into fall, for example, “there’s just so much beautiful produce available,” MacIsaac says.
For busy families, starting not just the school year, but also a new season of hockey, soccer, dance or other activi-ties, September and October can make for crazy dinner times – not to mention uninspired lunches.
Being able to regularly enjoy a meal together benefits not only the family nutrition but also family dynamics. “I think it’s really key to sit down and de-compress for the day,” MacIsaac says.
For this, “meal planning is key.”By taking a little time to plan ahead
considering the week’s schedule, fami-lies can be sure to have the necessary ingredients on hand, plus make a little extra to pack in lunches.
MacIsaac’s family enjoys hearty meals like curries, stews and soups, which can be re-heated the next day for school. Even pizza – made at home with fresh, healthy ingredients – is per-fect for lunch the next day. As an added benefit, these kinds of meals are perfect for sneaking a little extra veggies, seeds and legumes into kids’ diets.
For those with younger children, “one of the things I think is really key is just letting kids know where food comes from,” MacIsaac says.
Get the family involved in meal plan-ning and shopping, and visit a farmer’s market, for example. At home, kids can chop veggies, toss a salad, grate cheese and other components to meal preparation. “The kids love to be in the kitchen,” he notes, suggesting parents and kids also consider taking a class to-gether – they can choose a theme they both enjoy and learn something new together.
For those days when a home-cooked meal isn’t possible, quick-and-easy ideas don’t have to involve pizza. Barbecued chickens from the grocery store can be an excellent value, and can be used in a
variety of ways, MacIsaac notes. Similarly, ready-to-serve greens and
veggies can add a healthful kick right from the fridge.
Back toSchoolParents’ 8 PAGE SPECIALSECTION
Guidemeal planning key to eating well
Everyone gets stumped from
time to time about what to pack
in the lunch kit. The Dietitians
of Canada offer a few tips to take
the challenge out of lunches.
For more ideas, visit www.dieti-
tians.caPlan lunches using Eating Well
with Canada’s Food Guide as a
guide and aim to have the lunch
include at least one food from
each of the four food groups.
Be a role model: children who
see parents eat healthy are more
likely to eat healthy themselves
Value lunches: lunch is a vital
part of a child’s day; take some
time to plan and make delicious,
healthy lunches
Make it a team effort: get your
Quick lunch bag ideas: • Hummus, pita bread wedges, raw
vegetables, yogurt, 100% fruit juice
• Banana muffin, boiled egg, dried
apricots, milk• picnic lunch: cut up cheese, leftover
chicken or roast beef, whole grain roll,
grapes, pudding
• Whole grain tortilla filled with tuna
salad, celery sticks, fruit canned in
juice/water, chocolate milk
• leftover pasta with meat sauce, melon
cubes, cheese string, water
• Cold pizza, yogurt, 100% fruit juice,
raisins
Savvy lunch ideaschildren involved in mak-
ing lunches, from planning
to clean up.
Keep servings small: Include
peeled and cut up fruit and vege-
tables that are easy to eat. Cut ex-
tra veggies at supper time so kids
can include them for lunches.
Make lunches the night be-
fore and store them in the fridge.
Pack supper leftovers for lunch,
then kitchen clean up happens
only once.Set up a lunch drawer that
contains all the packaging needs
– insulated container, plastic
containers, plastic wrap, stickers,
napkins, spoons and forks. Have
a special shelf or area in the re-
frigerator for lunch supplies.
great idea!Teens and young adults antici-
pating their first foray out on their own may want to look at a cooking class that can offer some basics, as well as some new ideas, suggests chef Dwayne MacIsaac.
Rather than relying on college diets of mac & cheese and pizza, “I think people are really interested in what is going into their bodies.”
Why Choose Long & McQuade?Music lessons for all ages, stages and styles.Professional instructors make learning fun.Convenient lesson times for busy families.
No Registration Fees. Affordable Instrument Rentals.
Where the Music Begins!
2822 Nanaimo St., Victoria, 250.384.3620
Guitar, Piano, Drums, Bass, Voice, Violin,Sax, Flute, Trumpet, and more.
Register For MusicLessons Today
www.oakbaybikes.com
Back to School SaleAugust 20 - 28th All locations!
Hurry in for Best Selection
Oak Bay Bicycles Victoria location
1990 Oak Bay Avenue 250-598-4111(Plenty of parking at rear of building)
M-W 9-6, Thurs 9-8, Fri 9-6, Sat 9-5, Sun 10-5
Oak Bay BicyclesWestshore location
104 – 800 Kelly Road 250-590-6960(Near Westshore Town Centre)
M-T 9-6, Fri 9-8, Sat 9-6, Sun 10-5
Oak Bay BicyclesNanaimo location
#2-5771 Turner Road 250-760-0211Longwood Station
M-S 10 – 6, Sun 12 - 4
LOCKSHELMETSLIGHTS
SUMMER CLOTHING40-60%
off20%
off
Bell Solar Helmet reg $49.99 Sale $34.99Serfas Light Combo reg $29.50 Sale $19.99Axiom Columbus Dlx Bike Bag reg $60 Sale $29.99
Norco Pinnacle reg $355 Sale $299Norco City Glide 8 reg $775 Sale $529
10 -15% offALL BIKES in stock THIS WEEK ONLY
VICTORIA NEWS • OAK BAY NEWS • SAANICH NEWS • GOLDSTREAM NEWS GAZETTE • PENINSULA NEWS REVIEW - Friday, August 19, 2011 Back to School • B5
COlleGe bOund:
Back toSchoolParents’8 PAGE SPECIALSECTION
Guide
By Jennifer Blyth
The first year of college or university is an ex-citing prospect for most students, but as most grads will recall, it’s also a time of transition – academically, personally and socially.
But being aware of both the challenges and opportunities this affords – being mindful – can be a huge help in having a successful first year.
“I think one of the hardest challenges as I see it – and I’ve been involved with this for 20 years – is that developmentally, everything about where they are is moving away from parental influence,” explains Janet Sheppard, a counsel-lor with the University of Victoria.
While students may relish the idea of inde-pendence, it’s not always as easy as it sounds. Fortunately, there are more and more resources on campus to help, if students know where and when to look.
“The two qualities that move a student from surviving to thriving are resilience, a capacity to bounce back when things get tough, and re-sourcefulness, knowing when it’s time to go for help,” Sheppard says. “Sometimes students fall through the cracks because they feel like they should already know (something).
For this reason, an important first step is to get to know the campus and what’s available; a student orientation is invaluable.
Transitioning from high school to college or university also means a new environment with
new people and opportunities, and it’s impor-tant for students to be engaged in that experi-ence,” Sheppard says.
“Students who are engaged on campus – who find friendships, who join things, who go to all their classes – they do better and they get higher marks.”
Students don’t need to have lots of friends, but just one person they feel comfortable going to the cafeteria with or talking to is key. “Find-ing a friend is really important.”
Faced with massive lecture halls – much dif-ferent than a high school classroom with 35 classmates and a teacher they know – can be intimidating. Connecting with professors is a good step, whether it’s asking a question in class, going to office hours or chatting after class. “If they can screw up their courage and talk to a professor, that can be huge.”
Other options include on-campus clubs, in-tramural sports, volunteering or student orga-nizations.
Moving from high school to university-level classes can also be challenging, even for students who are accustomed to doing well without sig-nificant effort.
Where high school teachers can accommo-date each other’s assignment and test schedules, for example, at university, students will face multiple projects and exams at the same time.
For this reason, learning skills are invaluable. “Two of the biggest things students talk about
are time management and work load,” Shep-pard notes.
Faced with these challenges, it’s essential stu-dents try to maintain good nutrition, exercise and sleep habits, which can help them better handle the stresses that accompany university life. And if mistakes happen – which they will – learn from them and move on. What did the student learn from the experience? What sup-port did they find? Student counsellors can be invaluable here: “Finding that safe person to talk to is a really good way to get inside your head.”
For parents, “I think one of the most impor-tant things to realize is their best role is some-thing like a coach or mentor,” Sheppard says.
Building on the sports analogy, “as a coach, sometimes they win, sometimes they lose. You can help pick them up but you don’t go on the field to play for them. When they do fall off the rails, an important part of the coach’s job would be to believe in the student’s ability to get himself back on track.”
While this new role can be challenging for parents, the learning experience will help the student build resilience, which will serve them well in their academic career and in life.
“There is so much growth that goes on at this point in a student’s life,” Sheppard says. The key for students is “finding ways to talk about it, be reflective and to work at getting clear about what is important to you.”
Tips and techniques for a successful post-secondary transition
Getting to know your new campus and making at least one good friend to talk to are keys to a successful transition to college or university.
The Place To Tap!
Fall Classes CommenceSaturday, September 17
Register online at:www.BroadStreetDance.com
Sherry Black’s since 1967
“BroadStreet Dance”Fall Classes offered at BroadStreet Dance:
Visit our booth in Sears Mall - Aug 19/20
• Tap For ALL Ages And Abilities• ISTD Tap Exams• ISTD Associate Exams and Teacher Training• Tap/Ballet 'combo' classes for 5 & 6 year olds• Junior Jazz for 8 - 9 year olds• Hip Hop/Jazz/Tap combo class for 10 - 12 year olds• ALL BOYS Tap 4 - 7 and 8 - 12 year olds• Contemporary Jazz and Technique - Int/Adv • Street Jazz for Adults - Int/Adv • Zumba
Begbie Street at Belmont(in Saint Barnabas’ Hall)[email protected]
For information:
250-519-0555
Bro
adS
tree
t D
ance
r: A
nd
ré L
uss
ier
Ph
oto
: Tre
vou
r M
illio
ns/
Len
sdu
de.
com
Register By: Wednesday, September 7th
VSSC.ca | [email protected] | 250.381.TEAM (8326)
Fall 2011 Co-Ed Adult Sport LeaguesVSSC is here to make your fall fun with Dodgeball, Volleyball, Basketball, Soccer & more!
WENDY STEEN MITCHELLDANCE!
(38th year in Victoria)
www.tiptoesdance.ca250-598-7679
Located at Cedar Hill Rec CentreBallet-Jazz-Modern-Tap
with option of RAD/ISTD exams
SALES start Aug 19-21Buy 1 Get 1 50% off
Aug 29-Sept 5 25% off
All Jeans, Tees & Shoes!Sizes 0-16 Youth
Mayfair Mall, Victoria 250-477-ROCK (7625)Like us on Facebook: ROCKBEBE KIDS BOUTIQUE
Announcing our 2nd
Anniversary!Sept 17, 2011
40% OFF Entire Store
B6 • Back to School Friday, August 19, 2011 - VICTORIA NEWS • OAK BAY NEWS • SAANICH NEWS • GOLDSTREAM NEWS GAZETTE • PENINSULA NEWS REVIEW
What do you do when the kids go
back to school? “When the kids are back in school, I get back into a
regular practice of Bikram Hot Yoga and hiking
Mt. Finlayson with friends.” – West Shore mom
Dawn Coughlin
Help kids find the right extracurricular activity
Back toSchoolParents’ 8 PAGE SPECIALSECTION
Guide
While it can be fun and healthy for kids to participate in extracurricular activities, finding the right fit may not be as easy as it sounds.
From age and interest to cost and commit-ment, there’s plenty to consider when choos-ing an activity that works for both you and the child.
getting startedStart by speaking to kids about their interests.
Just because you loved playing soccer doesn’t mean your daughter is thrilled to hit the pitch. A creative child might enjoy an after-school art class several times per week. Other programs can help their personal development. A child who’s shy in public but loves hamming it up at home might embrace an after-school theatre program.
Once options have been discussed and nar-rowed down, ask if you can take in a session or two before committing. This will give kids and parents a sense of the program and whether it’s a good fit.
get the 411When looking for an extracurricular activity,
inquire about areas such as the staff-to-child ra-tio and the staff ’s professional background. Ask about the staff ’s references and if certification is necessary or recommended, make sure the staff meets all requirements.
Parents should also inquire about program
VICTORIA SCHOOL OF CONTEMPORARY DANCE
Creave MovemeBallet (exams offereModern/ContemporarImprovisaon3 Performing CompaniesProfessional Classes
dren, ens & Adults
Register Now for www.vscdainfo@vscdan
250 38
Classes for Tots, Children, Teens and Adults
Creative MovementBallet (exams offered)
Modern/ContemporaryImprovisation
3 Performing CompaniesProfessional Classes
Convenient Midtown LocationRegistration now being accepted online.
Register Now for Classeswww.vsdance.com
[email protected] 383 7183
Constance CookeArtistic Director
Faculty: Brandy Baybutt, Jung-Ah Chung, Robert Halley, Kelly Hobson, Leticia Pang and Constance Cooke
Publication News Group Ship To
Delivery August 10, 2011
Size 5.0 x 7.0 Approval [email protected] 250.385.2551 x613
Colour full colour Created By [email protected] 250.385.2551 x164
BC Transit offers a special pass for kids throughout the year.
The BC Transit Youth Pass gives riders ages 6 to 18 years unlimited travel throughout the Victoria Regional Transit System.
Just $35 per month for a minimum of six months.
For details visit www.bctransit.com and click Victoria – Fares.
1185
Victoria Regional Transit Commission
Transit Info 250·382·6161 • www.bctransit.com
Youth Pass!
Whether sports, arts, music or volunteering, a little planning will help children find the right fit for their extracurricular activities.
900 Johnson • 250.386.5311 • www.vcm.bc.ca
HouseOpen REGISTER FOR FALL CLASSES
NOW
Saturday September 10 / 10am-3pm• Free Mini Lessons • Instrument ‘Petting Zoo’ • Free Live Entertainment • Meet Our Faculty • Enter to Win a Free Semester of 1/2 Hour Lessons
costs. Though many programs are up-front about fees, some have additional fees that can add up, such as uniforms, equipment, class trips, etc. Extra fees don’t have to exclude a program from consideration, but it’s better to know about them in advance than be surprised later.
consider a child’s grade levelIf you’re unsure of whether an activity might
be too simple or too advanced, consult teachers about finding an age-appropriate extracurricu-lar activity.
Less competitive activities that emphasize fun might be more appropriate for younger children while for second graders, activities not offered at school, like learning to play an instrument, can help cultivate a child’s interest in a noncompetitive environment. As children mature, more rules-based activities, including team sports, can be good and as they move on to middle school, look for activities that rein-force learning and help develop a young per-son’s character, including their ability to inter-act with others.
MAKE YOUR SCHOOL’S NEXT FOOD DAY A
LUNCHALICIOUS DAY!We deliver nutritious & fun lunches directly
to your child’s school.
Have your school/PAC sign up today!
Leanna Young and Carrol PedersenOwners/OperatorsLunchalicious Food [email protected]
(250) 588-7616www.lunchalicious.ca
VICTORIA NEWS • OAK BAY NEWS • SAANICH NEWS • GOLDSTREAM NEWS GAZETTE • PENINSULA NEWS REVIEW - Friday, August 19, 2011 Back to School • B7
ArtCourses
Emphasis on technique - Fabulous results
250.383.0566
107-2250 Oak Bay Ave. (Monterey Mews)artisticstatementgalleryandschool.com
artisticstatement
Gallery andSchool of Fine Art
REGISTER NOW! LIMITED ENROLLMENTONLY 7 students per c lass to al low for individual guidance!
• Drawing - pencil, ink, charcoal, water colour pencil• Painting - acrylic, watercolour, pastel• Sculpture - clay, wire
• Cartooning
Wednesday OR Thursday • 4-5 pm OR 6:30-7:30 pm Saturday • 10-11 am, 11-12 noon OR 1-2 pm
• Drawing - pencil, ink, charcoal, water colour pencil• Painting - oil, crylic, water colour, pastel• Sculpture - clay, wire
• Portfolio Preparation
Wednesday • 1:30-3:30 pm OR 7:30-9:30 pm Thursday • 7:30 - 9:30 pm Saturday • 2:30 - 4:30 pm
CHILDREN (5-13 years)
Adults (14 & over)
How to take effective notes
Back toSchoolParents’
8 PAGE SPECIALSECTION Guide
Whether it’s time to head off to high school, or post-secondary classes at Camosun College or the University of Victoria are calling, students’ success in projects and exams will in many ways be affected by how effectively they take notes.
The difficulty can be knowing both how and how much to write down – enough to make sense and relay the information, but not so much as to be unwieldy.
• Experiment with various kids of note-taking to see what works well for you, including graphic representations to map out interconnected con-cepts; outlines or charts to group terminology with related ideas; cue words to trigger recollec-tion of facts and dates; and mnemonic devices to help recall information.
• Adequate listening skills help students trans-fer what the teacher is saying into ideas that can be put down on paper.
• Sit closer to the teacher or professor where eye-to-eye contact may help a student focus and better hear what the professor is saying.
• Remove distractions. When students enter the classroom, they should be ready to learn – silence mobile devices.
• Students prone to “zoning out” may want to ask permission to use a voice recorder, which can also help fill in gaps with notes.
• Notes should be dated and numbered. If references are made to chapters that correlate to the textbook, jot those down to strengthen the notes.
• Develop abbreviations and symbols to cut down on the amount of writing. Notes needn’t be in full sentences; phrases are also effective.
• Rewriting or typing notes helps ingrain the information in the brain more than simply re-reading it.
What do you do when the kids go
back to school? “Once the kids are back at school and all activity schedules are set, I go
through the Saanich Rec Guide to see what
programs I can join!”– Saanich mom
Marion M.
B8 • Back to School Friday, August 19, 2011 - VICTORIA NEWS • OAK BAY NEWS • SAANICH NEWS • GOLDSTREAM NEWS GAZETTE • PENINSULA NEWS REVIEW