back to school special section

Back to School

Back to School‘10

1168337

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Many parents of school-aged children are interested inpacking a healthy and envi-ronmentally friendly lunch fortheir children each day.However, they may havequestions regarding how to dojust that.

This is the season forschool lunches, as thousandsof students will be headingback to the classroom ... andlunchroom. For those whowill be bringing a lunch fromhome, there are ways to makeit healthy for the body and theplanet.

1. Choose foods the childwill eat. Nothing is morewasteful than a lunch thatends up in the trash ratherthan the stomach. Instead ofexperimenting with foods thatone would hope a child willeat, select healthy items thathave a past track record forsuccess.

2. Skip the brown bags.Certain children may relish

the idea of bringing in a char-acter-themed lunch box.Older children may scoff atthe idea. But the fact is thatdisposable paper lunch bagsare wasteful and reusablelunch carriers are much moreeco-friendly. Today there arelunch bags that are subdued incolor and style and are ofteninsulated to keep food at theright temperature.

3. Select organic foods.Whether the child is bringingin a peanut butter and jellysandwich or a pizza on a pita,choose foods that are organi-cally grown or local.Supermarkets now stock theshelves with plenty of organicoptions that are free from pes-ticides and harmful growingpractices. These foods arehealthier and more sustain-able.

4. Buy favorite foods inbulk. If the child loves cerealtreats or whole-grain granolabars, buy the big box and

store it in the pantry. Thissaves on packaging and extratrips to the store, both ofwhich are wasteful.

5. Use reusable containers.Rather than packing a sand-wich in a plastic baggie or apiece of plastic wrap, select aseries of sandwich holders,containers and the like thatcan transport the lunch con-tents to and from school. Surethey'll have to be washed eachnight, but children won't becontributing to extra waste.

When it comes to back-pack safety, most people tendto think about injuries causedby a heavy backpack or oneworn improperly. However,there are other dangers associ-ated with backpacks and cau-tion should be used.

Backpacks come in allshapes and sizes and can be ahandy tool for students oradults. When worn correctly,with weight evenly dis-trubuted across the back andshoulders, backpacks can besafer and more effective thanusing a purse or briefcase. Butmany people wear overlyloaded backpacks slung overone shoulder, which can poseproblems with posture andlead to back issues.

In addition to the physi-cal strain backpacks cancause, they can be a danger inother ways. Many people failto recognize how much spacea backpack can take up.Entering the tight quarters ofa school bus or commuting ona train or bus means a bulkybackpack can knock intoother people. If that backpackis full of heavy, cumbersomebooks or even a laptop com-puter, an inadvertent bump bythe pack can cause injuries.Also, backpacks taken off andplaced in bus aisles can be atripping hazard.

Students also can beinjured if a heavy packfalls on them. Childrentucking backpacksinto lockers or class-room cubbies mayfind that they slideout and hit anotherclassmate.

B a c k p a c k schange the wayindividuals walk.Because the per-son is carryingaround extraweight, he or she

may lose balance or trip andfall, especially when goingdown steps.To avoid these secondary haz-ards from backpacks, considerthese tips.• Don't overload a backpack.Carry only what is necessary.If too many books are theissue, parents should talk tothe school administrators andteachers to reach a happymedium regarding textbookusage.• When on the bus, safelystore the backpack on a lap orunder the seat. Be sure strapsor the pack itself is notextending into the aisle.• Avoid rolling backpacks,which can be difficult to roll.Some schools ban these stylesbecause of tripping hazards.• Recognize how much spacethe backpack takes up whenworn. Be conscious of otherswhen turning around or enter-ing a confined space.• Hold on to stair rails and donot run with a heavy back-pack to help avoid slips andfalls.• Choose a lightweightbackpack. Canvas back-packs are generally lighterin weight than leather back-packs. Do not add extraweight unnecessarily.

2 Sunday, August 1, 2010

BACK TO SCHOOL 2010

1168100

Backpack SafetyGoes BeyondBack Pain

5 Ways to Pack a 'Green' School Lunch

School buses are essen-tial modes of transportation,taking thousands of studentsto and from school every day.While school bus accidentsare rare, riders should stillpractice safety aboard andaround the bus.

In the early days of edu-cation, students were educat-ed in local schools withinwalking distance. If theyneeded to travel, it was byhorse-drawn wagon. As thenation's roadways began toevolve, so did the methods ofgetting children to school.Eventually school busesbecame the norm.

In an effort to preventinjuries, representatives from48 states met in 1939 to estab-lish safety standards forschool buses. Since then, sev-eral meetings, known as theNational Conferences onSchool Transportation, havetaken place to modify safetyprocedures and standards.

In addition to safety pro-cedures regarding ridership,school buses are built withcertain standards in mind.

Mirrors, lights, brak-ing systems and thelike are regulated toprovide the utmostsafety to passengers.While catastrophicaccidents involvingschool buses are veryrare, buses are builtto handle much morethan the occasionalrun-ins with passenger carsand light trucks.

Maintaining school bussafety is a team effort.Students need to do their partwhile riding the bus. Here arethe safety precautions thatshould be followed.• Walk to the bus stop, don'trun.• Always use caution whencrossing roadways.• Walk on the sidewalk when-ever possible. If no sidewalkis present, walk in the oppo-site direction of traffic to beaware of on-coming traffic.• Don't fool around at the busstop. Accidents can happenwhen individuals are unawareof their surroundings or dis-tracted.

• Stand at the bus stop in asafe location. Do not enter thestreet.• Arrive at the bus stop earlyso there is no need to rush andbe distracted.• Wait for the school bus to

come to a complete stop andfor other traffic to halt beforeapproaching the bus.• Promptly take a seat, andremain seated throughout theentire ride. If there are safetybelts present, use them.• Do not distract the bus driv-er with loud yelling, music,etc.• Don't throw anything aroundthe bus.• Keep the aisle clear to avoidtripping hazards.• Follow the driver's instruc-tions in the event of an emer-gency.• Remain seated until the bushas stopped at a particulardrop-off location.• When exiting the bus, take

three steps away from the busso that visibility of the driveris improved.• Watch for traffic whencrossing the street. Alwayscross in front of the bus.

• If something is forgotten onthe bus, don't try to run backand retrieve it. The driver maynot expect a student to bereturning to the bus.

Sunday, August 1, 2010 3

BACK TO SCHOOL 2010

1168247

• BALLET• TAP• JAZZ• ACROBATICS• HIP HOP• LYRICAL

• MOMMY & ME CLASSES• POINTE• COMPETITION CLASSES• MOM & DAD MORNING

DANCE FITNESS CLASSES• BABYSITTING

Barbara Pawlak,Artistic Director

Class Sizes LimitedFor Individualized Attention

Award WinningCompetition Classes

1168291

Celebrating Our 26th YearGrand Opening

Visit Our New 2600 Sq. Ft. Double Studio• Competitive & Non-Competitive Dance

Classes for All Ages• Centrally located on the

Meriden/Wallingford Line• Qualified, Professionally Trained Faculty

Classes for Preschoolthrough Advanced

FALL REGISTRATIONWEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18TH - 6-8 PMSATURDAY, AUGUST 21ST - 10-1 PM

WEDNESDAY - AUGUST 25TH - 6-8 PMSATURDAY - AUGUST 28TH - 10-1 PM

477 South Broad St.(Blockbuster Shopping Plaza)

Meriden/Wallingford

203-314-3882 or 203-605-3919

Be Smart: StaySchool-Bus Safe

There are many tips outthere for back-to-school shop-ping, but some of the smartestadvice is to get organized,make a list, and stock up onthe sales/bargains you canfind.

Parents may find thatschool supplies are becomingmore expensive, and that awider array of items arerequested each and everyyear. It’s not uncommon tosee tissues, antimicrobialsoap, and snacks placed on

school supply lists. That’sbecause many teachers’ budg-ets for school supplies arebeing cut, and parents mustmake up the difference.

In a recent Back-to-School Consumer Intentionsand Actions Survey, familieswith school-aged childrenwere expected to spend about$450 on school supplies eachyear.To avoid breaking the bank onschool supply shopping, con-sider the following ideas.

Separate wants from needs:Most school supplies do notgo out of style, provided youbuy book covers, notebooksand folders that do not playinto the latest cartoon ormovie craze. Buying generi-cally styled supplies is oftenless expensive and will helpensure that you won’t have topurchase all new supplies thenext time the latest block-buster movie comes out.Think usefulness in suppliesrather than fancy and fun.

Recycle and reuse: Aftereach school year, sort throughstudents’ supplies and weedout the ones that still havesome utility and put them in asafe place. Not only will thissave money, it’ll be justanother way for your familyto go green. Supplies re-usedare supplies that don’t end upin the trash... or in landfills.Begin shopping early: Don’twait until the week before theschool year starts to go shop-ping, because prices may behigher at this time. By starting

early you can shop the

sales and keep an eye out forbargains. And don’t limityourself to one store. Checkout office supply centers,warehouse clubs, departmentstores, and pharmacies to findthe sales that are easiest onyour budget.

Buy in bulk: It is oftencheaper to buy in bulk, sothink about doing so for thesupplies you know your childwill use up quickly, such aspens and pencils, paper, andpaper clips. Think about get-ting together with other par-ents and negotiating withstores for a less expensiveprice if you buy in bulk. Setup a storage cabinet or supplycabinet in your home, like abusiness office would have,that can house the supplies.

Send kids to schoolwith only a few

items at a time sothey’re not lost ortraded.

Shop best pricefor the value:You want sup-plies to last, sop u r c h a s i n gcheaply madeitems when qual-ity counts couldcost more in the

long run. You may want tospend a bit more when shop-ping for electronics, such asscientific calculators.Definitely comparison shop ifyou’re thinking of purchasingyour son or daughter a per-sonal computer for schooluse.

Talk to the teachers: See ifyour child’s school can imple-ment a policy to send homeschool supply lists at the endof the school year so parentscan get a head start on pur-chases over the summer.Some tech-savvy teachershave their own Web pageswhere they list supplies, read-ing lists and homeworkassignments. So be sure tocheck that before heading tothe store.


BACK TO SCHOOL 2010

1168099

Visit us at www.patriciasschoolofdance - wallingford.comClasses in: BALLET • POINTE • TAP • JAZZ • HIP HOP • WORKOUT CLASSMOMMY & ME • PRE-SCHOOL • BEGINNER • INTERMEDIATE • ADVANCED

Member of: Dance Masters of America, Inc., Dance Teachers Club of CT, Inc., Affl. Chapter #18★ Our Reputation For 43 Years Speaks For Itself

Certified to Teach by Test

Patricia'sSchool

of Dance202 North Plains Industrial Rd.,

Wallingford, Ct.

43nd ANNIVERSARY SEASON

OPEN HOUSETUES, AUG. 17th • 4 PM - 7 PMCall (203) 269-7678

* No Registration Fee* All classes personally taught

by Miss Patti

Children Are Our SpecialtyClasses for boys.

Our studio is furnished with apicture window through which

parents can viewtheir children and classes.

Meriden PublicSchools

Don’t Miss Out ...

School starts onMonday,

August 30, 2010

Let’s make sure ourstudents are on time and

present everyday.1168287

Shop Smart for School Supplies

The end of summer isoften not a reason to cele-brate. Kids dread the end ofdays off and the return toschool, while adults bemoanthe loss of summer hours atthe office.

One thing to look for-ward to at the end of summer,however, is the sidewalk sale.Before the sun sets on sum-mer, many stores take to thesidewalks outside their store-front to sell heavily discount-ed merchandise. Savvy shop-pers can make the most ofsidewalk sales and get one lasthurrah out of summer beforeit's gone forever.

• Take inventory. Sidewalksales are often a store's way ofreducing inventory beforethey shift to the new season.But stores should not be theonly ones with an eye oninventory. Shoppers shouldtake inventory as well, look-ing over what they truly needbefore hitting the sales. Thishelps reduce the risk of pur-chasing products that aren'treally needed. For example, ifkids already have four swim-suits, there's no reason to buyanother just because swim-suits are on sale.

• Size things up. Parentsshopping the sidewalk salesfor their kids should lookahead to next season and tryto predict how much their kidswill grow between now andthen. Shorts and dresses tendto be more lenient in size, asdresses can be worn long,short or medium and shortslike swim trunks tend to haveadjustable waists. But if shop-ping for shirts and other itemsthat are more form-fitting, tryto predict just which size kidswill be by the time next sum-mer arrives.

• Don't be trendy. Clothingstyles and trends changealmost as often as the seasonsthemselves. When shoppingan end of summer sidewalksale, avoid indulging in thisseason's trends because there'sa very small chance thosetrends will still be popularcome next season. Whenshopping, stick to more basicitems like solid color T-shirtsor tops or standard fare likeflip flops.

• Go with what's known.Sidewalk sales typically offerheavily discounted merchan-dise, so shoppers should gowith what they know, espe-cially when shopping for kids.The sales are only good if kidsend up wearing the items, soshop at stores kids like and arefamiliar with to make themost of sidewalk sales. Thesame principle also goes foradults. It's not a true bargainunless the items are eventual-ly worn, so stick to familiarstores.


BACK TO SCHOOL 2010

1168083

Licensed day care centerOver 35 years in child care.

Ages 6 weeks-12 years of ageNursery School and

Kindergarten Preparation

Buttons ‘N’ Bows, Inc.1961⁄2 Gravel Street

Meriden(203) 630-0609

Your child’s home away from home

Fun with Art, Music,Computers and Friends

1+1=2

Child Care You Can Count OnInfants and Toddlers (ages 3 weeks to 36 months)

Preschool (ages 3 to 5)• Accredited Half Day and Full Day options• Food ProgramBefore and After Kindergarten (located at South Meriden YMCA)• Bus transportation to/ from Meriden

elementary schoolsBefore and After School (Grades 1-5)• Hanover, John Barry, Ben Franklin, and Casimir

Pulaski students will attend program at Ben• Franklin School. Bus transportation provided.• Thomas Hooker, Israel Putnam, Nathan Hale, and

Roger Sherman students will attend program atRoger Sherman. Bus transportation provided.

Care 4 Kids Funding is accepted for allMeriden YMCA Child Care Programs.

Call 203-235-6386 orvisit www.meridenymca.org

for more information.

Meriden YMCA1168374

1168314

Full Day ProgramInfants • Toddlers • Preschool

6 wks. to 6 yrs.State Licensed

• Open Door Policy• Certified Teachers

CPA & First Aid Certified• Structured Preschool Programs• Educational Computer• Music Movement• Developmentally

Appropriate Curriculum

Over 55 Years in Service

1168089

1287 Peck Lane, Cheshire 203-272-5716www.jackandjillchildcare.com

Open Monday thru Friday6:30 am-6 pm

ParentsGuide

toCHILD

CARE

Day Care

Nursery

School

Before and

After School

Care

1168316

Make the Most ofEnd of SummerSidewalk Sales

Before and After DarceyCare available in our

Morning and Afternoon5’s Classes.

Call 203-699-1169 for info

111 Church DriveCheshire, CT 06410

Accredited bythe NAEYCAcademy for

Early ChildhoodProgram

Accreditation

1168289

104 ELM STREETWATCH FACTORY SHOPPES

CHESHIRE, CT (203) [email protected]

WWW.CHESHIRECCLC.COM

Owner Operated Since 1994Spacious/Fenced-in Playground

Summer Camp Program

OPTIONAL CLASSES:COMPUTERTOTS

MUSIC • FITNESS ZONE

Ages 6 Weeks-12 YearsBefore/After School Care

with TransportationFlexible Hours • Hourly Rates

1168081

1168290

• Age AppropriatePrograms for Ages 6Weeks to 9 Years

• Nursery School withCertified Teacher

• Before & After Schoolprograms withTransportationProvided

• State Licensed Staff• Child and Parent

Consultations• Open Door Policy

MONDAY to FRIDAY6:30 AM-6:00 PM

6 LOCATIONSMERIDEN (203) 235-8461

186 Pomeroy Ave.,(E. Main St. Exit Off I-91)

CHESHIRE (203) 272-16371311 Highland Avenue (Rt. 10)

SOUTHINGTON (860) 276-10311348 West Street(Exit 31 Off I-84)

ROCKY HILL • HARTFORD(860) 563-9096558 Cromwell Ave.,

(Rt. 3 Exit 23 Off I-91)

GLASTONBURY (860) 659-3002586 New London Tnpk.,

(At. Rt. 17 Overpass)

ORANGE (203) 891-0599801 Baldwin Rd.,

(At Derby Ave./Rt. 34)

Register Now!It’s BackTo School

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Kinder-Garden Learning Center20 SO. BROAD TERRACE MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT 06450

♥ Home-Like Setting 6 months-6 years of age♥ Nurturing Infant/Toddler Program♥ Specializing in “Hands-On” Learning♥ Enrichment Programs include: Creative Art, Music, Physical Education,

Computers, Spanish & Bookmobile♥ Special Monthly Events and Numerous In-House and Off-Site Field Trips♥ Full Day Preschool, Nursery School & Kindergarten Classes♥ Tri-Lingual, Friendly, Professional Teachers First Aid/CPR

Certified

1168082

A FUNPLACE TO

GROW!

Hours:Mon.-Fri. 7:00-5:30(203) 686-1586

Saint Andrew’s PreschoolSaint Andrew’s PreschoolEstablished 1972

20 Catlin Street, Meriden

(203) 237-7451• Programs for 3, 4 & 5 year olds

• 2, 3 or 5 day plans availableM/W/F 9:00 am to 1:00 pmT/Th 9:00 am to 11:30 am

A 1, 2 or 3 year program promoting social, emotionaland academic development to prepare for Kindergarten

State Licensed and NAEYC AccreditedA School Readiness Participant Sliding Fee Scale

1168086

1168298

1168079

• Open Year Round from 7 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.• Ages 2-5 Accepted• Offering: Morning & Afternoon Academic Nursery Programs• Extended Day Academic Programs• Before & After School Programs• Owners/Teachers - Susan Baker & Colleen Del Sole• Over 20 Years Teaching Experience

Little People’s Learning Center

CALL (203) 949-9000 for more information!!210 Main Street in the Yalesville section of Wallingford

Opening September 7th

See Us GrowChildcare & Learning Center

ExtendedHours

Available

1168101

1052 So. Colony Rd.Next to Zandri’s

(Located in old Unique Fitness Building)

203-269-KIDS(5437)

AcceptingRegistration

forthe Fall

Servingchildrensix weeksthrough12 years

old.

Kelly Barbarotta,Director

The Best in Child CareBefore & After School Care • Daycare • Nursery School 1168315


7

First CongregationalPreschool

62 Colony St., Meriden

5 Day Preschool ProgramFinancial Aid Available

2, 3, 5 Day Program for 3 to 5 Year Olds

Small ClassesEducationally and Developmentally

Appropriate Emphasis on Preschool Skills,Art, Music & Cooking,

Science & Computer Programs

Call (203)634-8886 for more informationHandicap Accessible

Serving All Children since 1967

State Licensed & NAEYC Accredited

1168084

1168103

WALLINGFORD FAMILY YMCA81 South Elm St., Wallingford, CT 06492

203-269-4497www.wallingfordymca.org®

HonestyRe

spec

t

CaringSCHOOL AGE

WALLINGFORD FAMILY YMCA

®

BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS◆ Homework assistance, creative enrichment activities, supervised athletic play, informal games, snack time, social

opportunities, and much, much more!◆ Theme Days, Special Events, Holiday Parties and Community Service Projects◆ Professional, dependable, and safe care for children grades K-8.◆ YMCA Character Values - CARING, HONESTY, RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY - taught in all of our programs.◆ Site supervisors are YMCA trained, qualified educators, and certified in CPR/First Aid and Child Abuse Prevention.◆ We follow the school year calendar and offer Camp Ulbrich Y-cation during school vacations and days off.◆ Hours are 6:45 am to the first bell and from dismissal until 6:15 pm after school.◆ Servicing all Wallingford elementary schools and Holy Trinity.◆ The YMCA accepts third party payments and financial assistance is also available through the Strong Kids Campaign.

CT State licensed by the Department of Public Health

◆ Healthy Snacks◆ KIDZLIT Literacy Program◆ Kindergarten Child Care

◆ CATCH Nutrition Program◆ Storm Club◆ All Day Kindergarten

Responsibility

1168285

21 Cummings St., Plantsville, CT 06479

860-621-3408Monday thru Friday 7:00 AM-5:30 PM

Infants • Toddlers • Preschool

“Voted Readers Choice Best Day Care in 2009”

Giggles & Grins Child Care Center, LLC

St. Paul's KindergartenChildcare Program

65 North Main Street, Wallingford203-269-1712

Enroll Now For the Fall • Transportation availableProviding after-school childcare for children

who attend morning kindergarten

www.stpaulswallingford.orga non-profit organization

1168085



CARING & SHARING TOGETHERConvenient Location - Easy Access to I-691/91

320 Colony St., Meriden

♥ Open Mon.-Fri. 7 am-5:30 pm ♥ Infants through School-Age Programs♥ Exceptional Staff - Qualifications

♥ Special Programs for our Center Families♥ Caring and Sharing Together with Bradley Home Residents

♥ Learning through Fun, Exploration & Choice

Educational programming using Pinnacle Curriculum

203-235-4859Call To InquireLimited Space Available

Visit our website www.carriagehousedaycare.com

11680731168076

"I'm Special" Learning Center, Inc.Devoted to Stimulating aChild’s Desire To Learn

Established 1979

Exclusively PreSchool• 3 year old programs - Tues../Thurs. AM; Mon./Wed. PM• 4-5 year old programs - Mon./Wed./Fri. AM;

Mon./Wed./Fri. PM• Additional Friday PM Kindergarten Readiness Program• 31 years experience

• Professional, nurturing staff certified inearly childhood education, CPR & First Aid

• Low Teacher to Student Ratio• Developmentally Appropriate Curriculum• Assessments and Conferences• Parents' nights• Now Registering for Fall 2010

203-265-7929Jan.-June Toddler Program

20 Chapel St.,Yalesville(Off Rt. 68 in historic Yalesville Firehouse) ONLY 5 MINUTES FROM MERIDEN

Call Judy Tatta for a Tour

Door of Hope Community Church120 Church St. (Rt. 68), Yalesville, CT

www.sonshinepreschoolct.com

203-741-1001 #105

Partnering with families, building a foundation for life.3 year olds, 4 year olds & Kindergarten Readiness

After School Kindergarten ProgramHalf Day 9-12, Full Day 8-2:30 or All Day 8-5:00

1168269

Open House: August 10th 6:00-7:00pm

Discover the KinderCare® Difference

with a FREE DAY!KinderCare® Learning Center is thelargest private provider of earlyeducation care in the nation. We areproud to offer an innovative curriculumimplemented by caring and dedicatedteachers who are eager to work withyou to provide the very best experiencefor your child. Visit a center near youand we’ll arrange for your child to spenda day with us, free!*

KinderCare #1810110 Miles Drive203 269-7730

Off of Route 68,next to Fairfield Inn

NOW ENROLLING:Infants • ToddlersPreschool • Pre-K

KindergartenBefore & After SchoolEnrichment Programs

1168379

ParentsGuide

toCHILD

CARE

Day Care

Nursery

School

Before and

After School

Care

1168317

OTHER CONVENIENT LOCATIONS

Register by August 22nd with this ad, and get one week free after one month of enrollment with all new registrations.4 Circle Drive 203-294-4466

Offering Van Service to area WallingfordElementary Schools before & after school.

Enroll today and save $75.00** Each center may vary activities

Enroll for Fall 2010

13

1 168320

1168295

20 Years of Dedication to Excellence in the EarlyCare and Education of Young Children

Now Enrolling for our Infant (Starting at 6 wks.), Toddler,and Pre-School Programs

Qualified, Nurturing Staff, trained & certified inCPR/First Aid & Medication Administration

Call (203) 265-1544 for further information or to make anappointment for a tour of our Center

Security Cameras, Secure Entrances, Credit Cards AcceptedCT Care 4 Kids Program Accepted

Director: Jo-Ann Adinolfi Holstein, Chamber of Commerce Member

8


BACK TO SCHOOL 2010

37 Hall Ave., Wallingford • (203) 294-3900

1167804

MEDICAL CAREERSTRAINING PROGRAMSCertified Nurses’ Assistant (CNA)

16 week course of study - classroom & clinical • 2 evenings per weekTuition: $700.00 - Wallingford resident, $725 - non-resident

Medical Assistant10 month course of study • 2 evenings per week • 160 hours internship

Tuition: $2800.00 - Wallingford resident, $2850 - non-resident

NEW! B.O.T.(Business Office Technology) For the 21st Century

Tuition: $500.00 - Wallingford resident, $525 - non-resident

Look for other medical trainingcourses in Fall brochure

including: Medical Terminology, Medical Billing & Coding,CPR Training - Adult, Child, Infant

Call NOW for Application 203-294-3900Orientation, Registration & Testing

Learning Center in the Railroad Station37 Hall Avenue, Wallingford

LEARN ENGLISH- OR -

STUDY FOR CITIZENSHIPTues., Sept. 7th at 9:15 AM

Wed., Sept. 8th at 7 PM • Thurs., Sept. 9th at 9:15 AMClasses Start Sept. 13th

Wallingford High School Credit DiplomaAt the Learning Center

Registration - Aug. 30th and Aug. 31st 9am - noonSept. 1st & Sept. 2nd

Bring a transcript and withdrawal papers.Call counseling 203-294-3900 for an appointment now.

High School Diploma Preparation Classesat the Learning Center

Start Tues. Sept. 7thClasses M-Th 9-11:30 AM • T & Th 6-8 PM

Today's educators areincreasingly aware of thelearning disabilities commonin children. One of the morewidely publicized and muchdebated conditions is autism.The educationl debate withrespect to autism largely sur-rounds whether segregatedautism classrooms or integrat-ed programs are better for thechild.

Autism is a developmen-tal disorder that can begin atbirth or in the first two yearsof life. In more severe cases,autistic children engage inpuzzling behaviors that aremarkedly different from otherchildren their age. They mayshow no interest in social situ-ations, aversion to touch andrepetitive behaviors, such asrocking or flapping theirarms. Less severe cases maybe classified as PervasiveDevelopmental Disorder(PDD) or Asperger'sSyndrome. These childrenmay exhibit normal speech,but have deficits in socialbehavior.

Autism was once veryrare. Today, however, autismnumbers are increasing at analarming rate. In 2007, theCenters for Disease Controland Prevention reported that 1in 150 children is diagnosedwith autism. Boys outnumbergirls four to one in diagnoses.Because autistic children areimpaired in their ability tocommunicate and socialize,many programs exist to segre-gate autistic children fromothers and focus on special-ized education, sometimesone-on-one instruction.However, due to educationalbudget cuts, many autisticchildren are now being inte-grated right into the regularclassroom. Whether this isbetter or worse for all studentsinvolved is debatable. But ifautistic children are beingschooled along with non-

autistic peers, certain stepsteachers can implement willmake the process more suc-cessful.• Follow a rigid schedule.Knowing what is going tohappen next is often benefi-cial to autistic children. Achart listing a daily schedulethat he or she can follow willindicate study times, lunchtime, recess, and other sched-uled activities. If any changesoccur to the schedule, provideplenty of advanced warning.• Use clear language andavoid idioms so there is noconfusion.• Have a quiet place the autis-tic child can go in moments ofoverstimulation or frustration.This is a comforting placewhere he or she can regroupbefore rejoining the class.• When addressing the entireclass, it might also be neces-sary to address the autisticchild individually. He or shemay not understand thatgroup instruction also pertainsto him or herself.• Use various means to pres-ent lessons, including pic-tures, words and modelingwith other students to helpensure clarity.• Enforce social rules, such astaking turns and sharing.• Repeat instructions andcheck that the student under-stands them.• Make sure the other studentsare aware of the autisticchild's special needs and thatteasing will not be tolerated. • Keep in mind that obstinatebehavior or anger should notbe taken personally. It couldsimply be a sign of frustrationin the child.• Organization can helpreduce anxiety and outbursts.Make sure the autistic childsits in a distraction-free area.Integration of autistic childreninto the regular classroom canbe a good start toward build-ing social skills.

Integration ofAutistic Children

The terms ADHD andADD are often used inter-changeably. Though similar,there are some subtle differ-ences which set these condi-tions apart from each other.

ADD is actually a subsetof ADHD, or AttentionDeficit HyperactivityDisorder. ADHD is theumbrella term most medicalprofessionals use for the con-dition. Just as the term"autism" is used to cover anumber of behaviors andsymptoms because it is easierthan calling each by an indi-vidual name, such is the casewith ADHD.

Generally, the term ADDis used when individuals donot display hyperactivitybehaviors. There are someother major differences in thetypes of ADHD. Recognizingsymptoms can help doctors

and parents achieve a morerefined diagnosis.1. ADHD, PredominantlyInattentive Type: This is theform of the disease most com-monly referred to as ADD.Symptoms include inability tosustain attention, makingcareless mistakes due to dis-tractions, and avoiding tasksthat require concentration.2. ADHD, PredominantlyHyperact ive-Impuls iveType: Symptoms of this par-ticular condition includeexcessive talking, fidgeting,restlessness, interrupting oth-ers, and being constantly inmotion.3. ADHD, Combined Type:In these cases, individualshave a combination of symp-toms.

Those with the type ofADHD classified as ADDmay be misunderstood andoriginally considered shy.They also may experience co-existing emotional conditions,such as depression or anxiety.They may have trouble mak-ing friends, but experienceclose emotional bonds withfriends they do make.

On the other hand, indi-viduals with ADHD are oftendiagnosed earlier becausehyperactivity is easily recog-nizable. They may attract a lotof attention and friends, buthave difficulty maintainingrelationships.

Some symptoms areshared by all kinds of ADHD,including: Lack of organiza-tional skills, easily misplacingitems, difficulty in school,low self-esteem, poor socialskills, and relationship prob-lems.

Depending on symptoms,doctors and therapists willdevelop a plan to enableADHD patients to betterfocus and be more successfulin daily activities.


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Millions of people,including school children, usea computer, mobile phone oranother digital device to par-ticipate in social networkingsites. This combination hasthe potential to be dangerous.The information being sharedor the "friends" on the otherend of the connection maylead to trouble for unsuspect-ing individuals.

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data, Facebook now com-mands 41 percent of all trafficon social-destination sites.Myspace, Gmail and Twitterfollow. Parents who areunaware of these modes ofcommunication should edu-cate themselves to protecttheir children. While some ofthese sites have age require-ments, many younger chil-dren are circumventing thisrequirement by lying about

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Children may not realizewhat is safe with regards to

social-networking sites.Although parents may feelout-paced by their technologi-cally savvy children, it isimportant for them to beinformed and involved in theirchildren's online interactions.


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Who Are Kids Chatting With Online?Protect Privacy by Being Informed

• Online continues on page 12

Here are some steps parentscan take to make the processfun but safe.

• Discuss privacy.Adolescents may think thatonly their friends will viewtheir private information.While privacy settings onsocial networking sites can beestablished, if a childbefriends someone he or shethinks is safe, that person willhave access to information,too. Certain information, suchas social security numbers,addresses, birthdays, accountnumbers, etc. should never bemade public on a site.

• Talk about sexual preda-tors. No parent wants to think

about an individual preyingon his or her child. But theInternet is home to many sex-ual predators who use socialnetworking sites to target vic-tims. Parents should informtheir children not to acceptfriend requests from individu-als they really don't know.While this may seem tocounter what the sites weredesigned to do, it's better to besafe than have a long list offriends.

• Remember that informa-tion cannot be taken back.Inform children that onceinformation is shared online,it has a funny way of alwaysremaining somewhere incyberspace. It's very difficultto delete information once ithas been shared; there is a

digital record of it. Also, evenif a child removes himself orherself from a social network-ing site, it's safe to assumethat his or her information isstill being stored in a data-base.

• Don't post any informationyou wouldn't want everyoneto see. Social networkingsites are not private places.Language, photos and infor-mation may be seen by a larg-er audience. Therefore, if achild wouldn't feel comfort-able swearing in front of hisor her teacher, that kind oflanguage shouldn't be usedonline. What's more, somesocial networking sites makelimited profile informationavailable to advertisers andtarget marketers. There are

few secretsonline thesedays.

• View chil-dren's pages.It's a good ideato see what chil-dren are doingonline. Thereare parentalmonitoring soft-ware programsthat can limitcertain Websites or trackWeb surfing.Also, a parentcan simply askto view a child'ssocial network-ing page tocheck on friendsand activity.

12 Sunday, August 1, 20101168284

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BACK TO SCHOOL 2010

Social networking sites can be fun ways tostay in touch, but they're also ripe with

predators looking to prey on kids.

• Online continued from page 11

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