The 2003-2004 theme for Wayzata Public Schools calendar is "Celebrating Family Involvement". It was mailed in August to 6,500 families in the district, with several thousand available for community use. On the calendars inside cover, Superintendent Paul Beilfuss writes "Parents and guardians give children the nurturing climate necessary to cultivate growing learners. . . . Schools and families are true partners in creating lifleong learners in the Wayzata School District."

Putting Family First volunteers helped brainstorm ideas for every month, provided Web links to national organizations, took pictures, and suggested a sponsor, Anchor Bank. Throughout the calendar, families can find research data and fun ideas for helping families make connections.

The Sun Newspapers also published an article about the calendar and PFF involvement.

Posted by Susan at 8/25/2003 09:36:23 AM | Link

 
The Family Circle magazine, Sept. 2 issue, has a great "back to school" issue. It covers topics such as Motivation magic, Procrastination, Top principals secrets to help your child achieve, and How Slowing Down Speeds Learning. In the later, Bill Doherty is quoted as saying "After-school activities are usually adult directed. Downtime requires a child to be imaginative, resourceful, and decide for himself what to do. He has the chance to practice social and leadership skills by creating his own games, making up his own rules, and working out his own problems."

The article also talks about kids who are shuttled from activitiy to activity often end up rushing through homework, or staying up late or rising early to finish it. "This routine shortchanges the brain of maintenance time and learning potential. "

The August issue of Child Magazine also has a great article about overscheduling kids, such as enrolling 2 1/2 year olds in French lessons and being told that enrolling as a 5 year old, is too late!

Check out both magazines. Unfortuntately, neither article is available on line.

Posted by Susan at 8/07/2003 08:39:39 AM | Link