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Page 30 September 2016 The Catoctin Banner Newspaper www.TheCatoctinBanner.com Published by www.EPlusPromotes.com
Ca t o c t i n
K I D s For kids and parents alike
by Anita DiGregory
A Maryland native, Anita has been a resident of the local community for nearly fifteen years. After graduating from Towson State University and working in the
public relations field for several years, Anita, her husband, Martin, and her family visited this area several times and fell in love with its beauty and inspiring
history. A mom of six wonderful children, Anita stays active in the community. With a group of dedicated moms, she helped to start Sacred Heart Tutorials, Inc.,
a Catholic homeschool cooperative. At Sacred Heart, she has taught classes, served on the board, and worked as administrator. Getting ready to embark upon
her fifteenth year homeschooling her children, Anita is excited to join The Catoctin Banner team to help share the amazing things the Catoctin area has to offer.
Back to School: How to Get the Year Started on the Right Foot
It’s about that time again. Local In order to offer some concrete the beginning. Give
retailers have marked down bathing suggestions for parents, I sat him that time to
suits, bubble-blowers, and backyard down with Thurmont Primary become acclimated
games, to make way for brand new School Principal Karen Locke to things. Once you
back-to-school merchandise. Along and Thurmont Elementary School establish a routine,
with new crayons, pencils, and Principal Christina McKeever. Both try to keep changes
notebooks, comes the promise of principals—Locke, having been in to a minimum.
new beginnings and new adventures. the field of education for thirty-two So, for example, if
On August 22, 2016, Frederick years, and McKeever, embarking grandma is planning
County’s public schools welcomed upon her third year as principal— to pick up your child
back nearly 41,000 students offered many helpful strategies. from school on a
throughout the county. As parents, particular day, ask
we want our children to have a Establish a routine. Young her to pick him up
wonderful and exciting new year, children thrive on routine: a from the bus stop,
but how can we help our younger homework regime, a bedtime instead of having her
and perhaps more nervous children schedule, a morning plan. Institute come to the school
to not only succeed but to flourish in a routine, and then practice it. For to pick him up. This
the coming year? example, if your child is a bus rider, consistency helps Gage Stup heads to his second-grade class with Mrs. Grimm on the
have him/her ride the bus right from children to be self- first day of school at Emmitsburg Elementary School.
assured and reduces Found tends to grow as the year
anxiety and stress. Make arriving
on time a priority. A key element proceeds, this will allow children to
quickly locate their belongings.
of a working, consistent routine is
ensuring students arrive on time.
Locke adds, “As grown-ups, we Help your Child Make Practical,
Healthy Decisions for their School
know how we feel when we are Day. In the beginning, children may
running late, but it is hard for them, ask for large lunches, complete with
as children, to adjust and catch up lots of chips and treats; however, as
parents, we know this is not best for
when they are late.” them. Students’ lunch periods are
Model an Optimistic and limited and, understandably, they like
Encouraging Outlook. When
unsure, children look to their to use this time to socialize. Often
students do not finish what is in their
parents and watch their responses lunch; for the first week, students
to events. McKeever stresses the
importance of a positive attitude. will be sent home with what they
aren’t able to finish, in an effort to
When parents model a positive help parents save time and money
outlook, children strive to emulate
them. This will give them the in the future. You know your child’s
nutritional needs best. Work with
confidence they need to succeed. your child to help him/her learn to
Prepare and Organize. Prepare
as much as possible for the coming make healthy choices. For example,
a lunch full of carbs may not be
school day the night before. Have conducive to helping them get right
all of your child’s school supplies
on hand and ready to go. Help your back to work after the lunch period,
and may instead leave them feeling
child decide on shoes and clothes, sluggish and sleepy. Also, help them
and place them out. Prepare lunches
and backpacks the night before as make practical decisions with regards
to dress. Although flip flops may be
well. Have organized locations for a more comfortable shoe choice, they
your student: a place where they will
always place their shoes, backpacks, are not advantageous in running and
climbing. By helping children make
lunch boxes, and other school good choices, parents equip their
supplies, so they always know where
to put them and where to find them. children with invaluable decision-
Label everything, all coats, backpacks, making skills.
sweaters, etc. Because the Lost and
…Continued on page 31
Ca t o c t i n
K I D s For kids and parents alike
by Anita DiGregory
A Maryland native, Anita has been a resident of the local community for nearly fifteen years. After graduating from Towson State University and working in the
public relations field for several years, Anita, her husband, Martin, and her family visited this area several times and fell in love with its beauty and inspiring
history. A mom of six wonderful children, Anita stays active in the community. With a group of dedicated moms, she helped to start Sacred Heart Tutorials, Inc.,
a Catholic homeschool cooperative. At Sacred Heart, she has taught classes, served on the board, and worked as administrator. Getting ready to embark upon
her fifteenth year homeschooling her children, Anita is excited to join The Catoctin Banner team to help share the amazing things the Catoctin area has to offer.
Back to School: How to Get the Year Started on the Right Foot
It’s about that time again. Local In order to offer some concrete the beginning. Give
retailers have marked down bathing suggestions for parents, I sat him that time to
suits, bubble-blowers, and backyard down with Thurmont Primary become acclimated
games, to make way for brand new School Principal Karen Locke to things. Once you
back-to-school merchandise. Along and Thurmont Elementary School establish a routine,
with new crayons, pencils, and Principal Christina McKeever. Both try to keep changes
notebooks, comes the promise of principals—Locke, having been in to a minimum.
new beginnings and new adventures. the field of education for thirty-two So, for example, if
On August 22, 2016, Frederick years, and McKeever, embarking grandma is planning
County’s public schools welcomed upon her third year as principal— to pick up your child
back nearly 41,000 students offered many helpful strategies. from school on a
throughout the county. As parents, particular day, ask
we want our children to have a Establish a routine. Young her to pick him up
wonderful and exciting new year, children thrive on routine: a from the bus stop,
but how can we help our younger homework regime, a bedtime instead of having her
and perhaps more nervous children schedule, a morning plan. Institute come to the school
to not only succeed but to flourish in a routine, and then practice it. For to pick him up. This
the coming year? example, if your child is a bus rider, consistency helps Gage Stup heads to his second-grade class with Mrs. Grimm on the
have him/her ride the bus right from children to be self- first day of school at Emmitsburg Elementary School.
assured and reduces Found tends to grow as the year
anxiety and stress. Make arriving
on time a priority. A key element proceeds, this will allow children to
quickly locate their belongings.
of a working, consistent routine is
ensuring students arrive on time.
Locke adds, “As grown-ups, we Help your Child Make Practical,
Healthy Decisions for their School
know how we feel when we are Day. In the beginning, children may
running late, but it is hard for them, ask for large lunches, complete with
as children, to adjust and catch up lots of chips and treats; however, as
parents, we know this is not best for
when they are late.” them. Students’ lunch periods are
Model an Optimistic and limited and, understandably, they like
Encouraging Outlook. When
unsure, children look to their to use this time to socialize. Often
students do not finish what is in their
parents and watch their responses lunch; for the first week, students
to events. McKeever stresses the
importance of a positive attitude. will be sent home with what they
aren’t able to finish, in an effort to
When parents model a positive help parents save time and money
outlook, children strive to emulate
them. This will give them the in the future. You know your child’s
nutritional needs best. Work with
confidence they need to succeed. your child to help him/her learn to
Prepare and Organize. Prepare
as much as possible for the coming make healthy choices. For example,
a lunch full of carbs may not be
school day the night before. Have conducive to helping them get right
all of your child’s school supplies
on hand and ready to go. Help your back to work after the lunch period,
and may instead leave them feeling
child decide on shoes and clothes, sluggish and sleepy. Also, help them
and place them out. Prepare lunches
and backpacks the night before as make practical decisions with regards
to dress. Although flip flops may be
well. Have organized locations for a more comfortable shoe choice, they
your student: a place where they will
always place their shoes, backpacks, are not advantageous in running and
climbing. By helping children make
lunch boxes, and other school good choices, parents equip their
supplies, so they always know where
to put them and where to find them. children with invaluable decision-
Label everything, all coats, backpacks, making skills.
sweaters, etc. Because the Lost and
…Continued on page 31
