With only one week until the start of another school year, I'm amazed to realize that I have one daughter entering high school and the other one in 2nd grade. It seems like only yesterday that my mom was a band booster parent. Now I'm the booster parent! I'm so grateful that my mom took the time to be involved in my school and our community and now I want to do the same for my daughters.
Studies have proven that children succeed with the support of their parents and/or mentors. The following article challenges us to get involved and help to make a difference in our schools.
Bring game, not blame, as school year starts | Local Voices | Fort Worth, Arlington, Northeas...
Showing posts with label back to school. Show all posts
Showing posts with label back to school. Show all posts
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Back To School
It's that time of year again and as we head back to school, I notice the excitement in the kids all around me. It doesn't matter whether they say they don't want school to start or not, I think secretly most of them are ready for school. Afterall, where else can they find so many different challenges and joys all under one roof?!?!
At my daughter's middle school, the girls are starting cheerleading practice and volleyball tryouts. The band, orchestra, choir, Mathletes and many other groups and clubs are gathering to kick off their year. The boys are already practicing football to get ready for the big game! The other night we were standing in the backyard and could hear the high school marching band practicing. They've already had their first game of the season! There are not many feelings like the thrill and excitement of a football game, whether you're a fan or not. If you're really paying attention, you can't help but feel the energy in a football stadium!
As we head back to school, I often wonder if we can add anymore to our schedules but somehow, someway we make time to do the things that we want to do. Everytime I hear someone say that I just don't have time for that, I think to myself that you will make the time if you really want to. My advice to you is to make the time for the things that are really important. Spend time reading with your children. Have a family game night. Watch a family movie together. If you have teenagers, sit with them at the computer and find out what they like about facebook or whatever it is that they are into. Do it before it's too late! Develop a relationship with your children that will get you through the rough times.
Our children are with us for a relatively short amount of time. By the time they become teenagers, even though they are still living at home, they are starting to define who they are as an individual. This is an important and necessary process on their journey to becoming an adult but they are already pulling away from us. Cherish the time when they are little and take advantage of their unconditional devotion to you. It goes by in a blink of the eye!
Now that the school year has kicked off, this Friday night when you are trying to think of something that you can do with your family - go check out the local high school football game. Sports have long been a tradition in our country and the excitement gleened from a football game is thrilling. The comraderie and bonding that is done during sporting events is priceless!
Are you ready for some football?!?!?!?!
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Back to School and Parent Involvement
Okay, so summer vacation is essentially over. We have two days until the first day of school. Where did the summer go? Did I sleep through the entire summer? Why does it feel like we just finished the last day of school yesterday? Each summer that goes by seems to pass faster and faster. So I'm wondering if I will have any summer at all by the time I'm 50 years old.
At the beginning of the summer, I had these grand plans of not doing anything but lazing around the house and watching movies with my girls. We could hang out at the pool. We could play Nancy Drew games on the computer (all three of us love to play Nancy Drew even though Bailey isn't technically old enough yet - she'll just sit and watch). We were going to catch up on our scrapbooks. You get the picture. And you can probably guess what I'm going to say next. We did watch some movies but not as many as I would have liked since I'm an avid movie watcher. I didn't play one Nancy Drew game although I did get more familiar with Facebook (sigh). We played a couple of board games. We went to the pool more in Maryland when we visited Richard's family than we have here, with the exception of swim practice for Morgan. I did pull out my scrapbook supplies last week but didn't scrapbook. We used them to make posters for PTO.
That's right, I joined the PTO board this year. I must have had a lapse in judgement and rational thinking the day that I said I would do this. What was I thinking? I've been sucked into the black hole with no hope of ever returning to a normal life. I wonder sometimes if that's what Richard is thinking. Will he ever see me again? Will there be time for the two of us to spend together without the girls, PTO, or something else getting in the way?
All joking aside, joining the PTO is not a black hole of volunteer work and commitment. I will see daylight and I will spend time with my family - yes, my husband too. And I will not regret a minute of the time that I spend helping to make my daughter's school a better environment for her to learn in! Contrary to some beliefs, the people who make up PTO's and PTA's across this country are not all cliquish. We all don't have our own agendas. Some of us really do want to help make the school that our children attend a better place. We want to create an environment that is conducive to learning. In order to achieve this goal, we want to make our school a safe and enjoyable place which inspires our teachers and students to be their best! And what's best for my child is what's best for all of the children. We want to foster a team and community spirit in which the children learn about working together and helping each other. We want the children to learn to be respectful and responsible. Building their character in a positive way is quite possibly the most important aspect of a school's environment. Once this is achieved, then the academics will be learned without a doubt.
Parent Involvement is so important in a child's life. Studies have shown that children perform better on tests and their self-confidence is improved when parents are involved in their children's lives. You don't have to sacrifice your entire life to become involved in your children's schools. And if you're a working parent, there are little things that don't require a huge time commitment that you can do. Volunteering in your child's school doesn't have to be the "black hole" of time commitment. There is a job for everyone - big and small ones. Please do your kids a favor and get involved. Join the PTO/PTA or the booster club and help to make a difference in your school community!
At the beginning of the summer, I had these grand plans of not doing anything but lazing around the house and watching movies with my girls. We could hang out at the pool. We could play Nancy Drew games on the computer (all three of us love to play Nancy Drew even though Bailey isn't technically old enough yet - she'll just sit and watch). We were going to catch up on our scrapbooks. You get the picture. And you can probably guess what I'm going to say next. We did watch some movies but not as many as I would have liked since I'm an avid movie watcher. I didn't play one Nancy Drew game although I did get more familiar with Facebook (sigh). We played a couple of board games. We went to the pool more in Maryland when we visited Richard's family than we have here, with the exception of swim practice for Morgan. I did pull out my scrapbook supplies last week but didn't scrapbook. We used them to make posters for PTO.
That's right, I joined the PTO board this year. I must have had a lapse in judgement and rational thinking the day that I said I would do this. What was I thinking? I've been sucked into the black hole with no hope of ever returning to a normal life. I wonder sometimes if that's what Richard is thinking. Will he ever see me again? Will there be time for the two of us to spend together without the girls, PTO, or something else getting in the way?
All joking aside, joining the PTO is not a black hole of volunteer work and commitment. I will see daylight and I will spend time with my family - yes, my husband too. And I will not regret a minute of the time that I spend helping to make my daughter's school a better environment for her to learn in! Contrary to some beliefs, the people who make up PTO's and PTA's across this country are not all cliquish. We all don't have our own agendas. Some of us really do want to help make the school that our children attend a better place. We want to create an environment that is conducive to learning. In order to achieve this goal, we want to make our school a safe and enjoyable place which inspires our teachers and students to be their best! And what's best for my child is what's best for all of the children. We want to foster a team and community spirit in which the children learn about working together and helping each other. We want the children to learn to be respectful and responsible. Building their character in a positive way is quite possibly the most important aspect of a school's environment. Once this is achieved, then the academics will be learned without a doubt.
Parent Involvement is so important in a child's life. Studies have shown that children perform better on tests and their self-confidence is improved when parents are involved in their children's lives. You don't have to sacrifice your entire life to become involved in your children's schools. And if you're a working parent, there are little things that don't require a huge time commitment that you can do. Volunteering in your child's school doesn't have to be the "black hole" of time commitment. There is a job for everyone - big and small ones. Please do your kids a favor and get involved. Join the PTO/PTA or the booster club and help to make a difference in your school community!
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