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Special Advertising Supplement September 5, 2007
G E A R U P S u c c e s s Pa r t n e r s h i p
Upcoming events
Sept. 10–14
Ohio Graduation Test (OGT) Practice,
grades 9–10
Sept. 17–21
Midterm Week
Monday, Sept. 24,
7 p.m. – Board of Education meeting,
Education Center, 2651 Burnet Ave.
Auditorium
Tuesday, Sept. 25
Open Houses for high schools
Friday, Oct. 5
Professional Development
No pupils
Monday, Oct. 8
7 p.m. – Board of Education meeting,
Education Center, 2651 Burnet Ave.
Auditorium
Did You Know?
Fast Facts
Thirty years of
research shows that
parent and community
involvement in schools
improves student
Reading is the Key
are one way to start. Another idea is to set up a message
center where members of your family can write to each
other. Even easier—put up magnetic letters on the refrig-
achievement.
to Success in School
erator to invite young children to play by creating words
and sentences.
••• Give books and magazines to your children as gifts.
Yard sales and flea markets are great places to buy books
Make a difference for inexpensively.
All parents want their children to be successful Let children select books that interest them. Books
your child, get involved! readers. Reading, after all, provides the foundation for on sports, animals, movies, or musicians can sometimes
catch their interest.
a great education as well as a lifelong skill that brings Turn off the television! Children need quiet time
knowledge and pleasure. But did you know that it’s not without distractions. Providing quiet time will encourage
too late to read to your middle-schooler? Even
though she can read, you can help improve her
skills and encourage her interest in books by let-
ting her listen to you read.
Children who have been read to develop important reading
skills in part because parents and caregivers are the best role mod-
els. Show your children that reading is important by reading your-
self!
Take trips to the library and bookstores. The public library is a
wonderful place to help children discover—and keep—a joy for
reading.
Encourage your children to write. Even very young
Serving 3,800 students in 23 Cincinnati Public Schools children can and should explore with print. Beginning
For more information: readers can build their skills through writing. Write
phone 513-556-3611 with your children! Letters, emails and postcards
or fax 513-556-1037
Just For Parents:
Managing Manic Mornings
Getting kids fed, ready and to school on time — while you get ready for your day — can be a monu- children to read more often and for longer
mental task. Here are some tips to make your morning routine less hectic: periods of time.
Talk to your child. Ask him how he felt or
Prepare the night before. If you’re offering cereal for breakfast, get the cereal, bowls and spoons out and on the counter. what he thought about the stories or books he’s
Check the weather, let everyone know what it will be and have them choose appropriate outfits. Lunch money, homework, read. If he enjoyed a movie that was based on a book,
pencils, permission slips, etc. should all be gathered and ready the night before. encourage him to read it. Let him know that the printed
Make time for breakfast. It serves as a healthy way to start the day both physically and emotionally for the whole family. version is often much better than the screen version
because it isn’t limited by technology or time length. Pay
Get enough rest. This goes for everyone in the household, including you. And if your teen can’t seem to shut down early, attention to which television programs he prefers and
at least make sure he’s in his room, quietly reading (not watching TV!) as early as possible. provide suitable books on the same subjects.
Get a dictionary to keep at home and, if possible, an
Model a positive attitude. Life isn’t always easy — that’s a fact — but having a positive attitude about doing things that
aren’t easy is one of the keys to being a happy, well-adjusted adult. Give your teen this lesson every morning, without the
encyclopedia. (Check out yard sales, thrift stores and flea
lecture, just by doing it. markets for used editions.) Encourage your child to look
up subjects that puzzle or interest her. And if you don’t
Get out of bed before the kids do. Give yourself 10–15 minutes alone to have a cup of coffee or mentally prepare for the have resources at home, help her get to the library.
day. If your student is an avid comic book reader, don’t
discourage it. At least he’s reading! Just try to provide
Have your children help. Does the dog need to go out? Your 10-year-old can handle that. Delegating some of the morn-
ing responsibilities makes the morning less stressful for everyone.
other, more worthwhile reading material, like this En-
quirer series provided every Wednesday to students by
Finish with a loving goodbye. Give them all a hug, including your teen, if she’ll let you. It’s a perfect way to strengthen GEARUP. Encourage your child to bring it home!
your family bond and set the tone for a productive day.
September 5, 2007 Special Advertising Supplement Page 2
Helping your Child with Homework
Research shows that parent involvement can have either a pos-
itive or negative impact on students’ homework. Parent involve-
ment can be used to speed up a child’s learning. And homework
can involve parents in the school process. If you are the parent of
a middle or high school student, getting involved with homework
can give you an opportunity to express positive attitudes about
the value of success in school.
But be careful—parent involvement may also interfere with learning. For example,
parents can confuse children if the teaching techniques they use differ from those used in
the classroom. And parent involvement in homework can interfere with learning if par-
ents do too much, like completing tasks for the child rather than simply helping.
When parents or guardians get involved with their children’s homework, communica-
tion between the school and family can improve.
It can clarify for parents what is expected of students. It can give parents a firsthand
idea of what students are learning and how well their child is doing in school.
Research shows that if a child is having difficulty with homework, parents should
become even more involved and pay close attention. They should expect more requests
from teachers for their help. On the other hand, if
a child is doing well in school, parents should con-
sider backing off a bit and supporting their child’s
own choices about how to do homework.
Homework can be an effective way for stu-
dents to improve their learning and for parents to
communicate their support for education.
Make sure your child has a quiet, well-lit
place to do homework.
Avoid having your child do homework
with the television on or in places with other
distractions, such as people coming and going.
Make sure your child has the materials
he or she needs, such as paper, pencils and
a dictionary. If you don’t have a diction-
ary or other necessary reference book,
the library is a good place to go. Not
only will the library most likely have
the books you need, it is also a Establish a set time each day
generally quiet and well-lit place. for doing homework. Don’t let your
Ask your child if special child leave homework until just before
materials will be need- bedtime. Use a weekend morning or
ed for some projects afternoon for working on big projects,
and get them in especially if the project involves getting together with
advance. classmates.
Help your Be positive about homework.
child with Tell your child how important school is. The atti-
time man- tude you express about homework will be the attitude your
agement. child acquires.
When your child asks for help, provide guid-
ance, not answers.
Giving answers means your child will not learn the
material. Too much help teaches your child that when the
going gets rough, someone will do the work for him or her.
Cooperate with the teacher. It shows your child
that the school and home are a team. Follow the directions
given by the teacher.
If homework is meant to be done by your child alone,
stay away. Remember that homework is a great way for
kids to develop independent, lifelong learning skills.
Stay informed. Talk with your child’s teacher. If you’re not sure, ask about the
purpose of the homework and what the teacher expects.
Encourage your child to do the hard work first. This will mean he will be most
alert when facing the biggest challenges. Then easy material will seem to go fast when
fatigue begins to set in.
Watch your child for signs of failure and frustration. Let your child take a
short break if she is having trouble keeping her mind on an assignment.
Reward progress in homework. If your child has done will with homework and is
working hard, celebrate that success—pizza, a trip to the park—to reinforce the positive
effort.
PA R E N T S :
Take a
Lunch Lesson
and keep kids lean
The quantity of • Take kids shopping and have them pick out foods
food packed is also they like.
important since • Have kids help pack their lunch. Teach them how
portion size is to pack a well-balanced lunch with appropriate portion
another sizes.
As your child
factor
that contrib-
How to make peanut • Pack dinner leftovers for
lunch. Use leftover chicken for
begins the new school year, it is time to
pay close attention to what he/she is having
utes to overweight kids.
One snack bag of pretzels may con-
butter rolls: sandwiches or pasta for a cold
salad.
for lunch. It is estimated that over 16 percent of tain two or more servings. Pre-measuring items • Flour tortillas • Make sandwiches differ-
children nationwide are overweight – and that percent- such as peanuts or cookies into the correct serving ent by using pita or focaccia
age is on the rise. Parents greatly influence what their kids size shows kids just how much they should be eat-
• Peanut butter breads.
eat and encouraging healthy eating habits is more impor- ing of such foods. • Jelly • Use insulated lunch
tant now than ever. MealsMatter.org is a free Web site that boxes and refreezable ice
Preparing nutritious school lunches and snacks is a can help take the guesswork out of what
• Raisins (optional) packs to help keep foods cold
challenge for many parents. But lunch is the second most to prepare for lunch. The site’s back-to-school and fresh.
important meal for school-aged children and provides health feature contains advice for parents includ- Spread peanut butter, • Send hot vegetable or
one-third of their daily calories. ing healthy lunch and snack ideas, nutrition infor- chicken noodle soup -- use
One of the easiest ways parents can ensure they are mation and recipes. The site also features informa- then jelly on tortilla. thermoses to keep hot foods
packing a nutritious lunch is to provide a mixture of tive articles, downloadable references, interactive hot.
whole grains, low-fat dairy, fruits, vegetables and tools and nutrition activities. Sprinkle with raisins. • Choose healthier snacks
lean meats. The following are a few healthy school lunch such as fresh or dried fruit,
and snack tips from MealsMatter.org: Roll up tortilla. veggie sticks or string cheese.
Page 3 Special Advertising Supplement September 5, 2007
Where does the
money
come from?
Finding financial aid for college tuition
Education beyond high school is a valuable invest- half-time status. Interest rates on Federal Perkins Loans
ment of time, effort and money. Don’t let money are fixed and will not exceed 5 percent.
worries end your dream of a college education. Stafford loans are also need-based, and are available
There are several ways to finance even the most expensive to undergraduate and graduate students in two forms
postsecondary education or job training. – subsidized loans, which don’t earn interest until repay-
Understanding financial aid and the resources that ment begins, and unsubsidized loans, which accumulate
are available is an important step in the college planning interest when the loan is paid out to the student. The
process. The largest source of financial aid is the federal maximum annual amount that may be awarded is $2,625
government, followed by state governments, colleges and for the first year, $3,500 for the second year and $5,500
private organizations. Financial aid comes in three for the third and fourth years. For each type of Stafford
forms: grants and scholarships, loans, and work Loan, repayment begins six months after graduation,
study programs. withdrawal, or if the student drops below half-time status.
Grants and scholarships are often referred to Interest rates on Stafford Loans are variable and will not
as “free money.” They are funds that are used for exceed 8.25 percent.
education that do not have to be repaid. Grants The Federal PLUS Loan is available to parents of
are awarded based on financial need and are given out dependent undergraduate students and is not need-based.
Parents:
by state and local governments, as well as colleges and Each year, parents may borrow up to the total cost of the
universities. student’s education, minus the amount of any other finan-
Scholarships are awarded for a variety of reasons. cial aid their child receives. Repayment begins 60 days
They can be given for academic or athletic achievement, after the funds are paid out. The interest rate is variable
starting early
economic need, community involvement or volunteer and will not exceed 9 percent.
work, based on a parent’s employer, membership in orga- Students may also earn money to pay for
nizations, or even unique personal characteristics. school through the Federal Work Study program,
gets students in
To be considered for most scholarships, stu- which allows students to work part-time while attend-
dent must complete an application. Scholarship ing classes and encourages community service and work
opportunities are often available online or from school related to each student’s course of study.
counselors.
Students may also apply for a variety of loans,
or borrowed money, to finance their college edu-
The jobs may be on-campus or off-campus, and stu-
dents will earn at least the federal minimum wage – but
the rate could be higher, depending on the type of work
shape for school
cation or job training. However, student loans are a and the student’s skill level.
serious obligation – much like a car loan or mortgage – The total work-study award depends on when the stu-
and students should carefully consider how much student dent applies, their level of need and the school’s funding If there are young children in your
loan debt they are willing to carry. level, and students may not work more hours than their
There are several different types of loans available for award permits. The student’s employer or financial aid
home, it’s never too early to help them
both students and parents. The federal government spon- administrator will consider class schedule and academic develop a love for learning. Before enter-
sors the Federal Perkins Loan Program, Stafford Loans progress when assigning work hours. ing school, young children should learn a
and PLUS Loans. Education is too important to pass up, especially
Federal Perkins loans are available for undergradu- with all the available financing opportunities. Check basic knowledge of themselves, their fami-
ate and post-graduate education, and they are awarded here the first Monday of each month to learn more about lies and the world around them through
based on financial need. Undergraduate students may be how to pay for your child’s education – or your own. To
awarded a maximum amount of $4,000 per year under learn more now, or to apply for Federal Student Aid, visit play and interaction with caring adults.
this program, and repayment begins nine months after www.studentaid.ed.gov or www.collegeanswer. Here are some tips for preparing young
graduation, withdrawal, or if the student drops below com.
children for academic success:
• Read to your child daily and talk about what you’ve
read.
• Visit the library. Check out books and attend story
times.
• Sing rhyming songs and finger plays.
• Put your child’s name on clothing and toys to
help him or her recognize their name in print.
• Encourage your child to write his or her name.
• Help your child learn basic colors by pointing and nam-
ing objects like, “green trees,” “red apples,” “blue coats.”
• Give your child puzzles and games that require
counting and problem solving.
• Let your child scribble, draw and write, cut and
paste.
• Sing the alphabet song with your child, and provide let-
ter magnets or other toys that will help him/her begin
to recognize the letters of the alphabet.
• Take your child to the zoo, parks, the grocery store, the
post office, and the pet shop. Talk about the sights
and sounds of your day.
• Make time for your child to play – to sing, dance,
climb, jump, run, and ride tricycles or bikes.
• Choose childcare that promotes learning through
well-planned, fun and interesting activities.
(Source: National Education Association)
HOME ALONE
Tips for keeping your child safe
What will your child do after school? Will he be home 3. She should know how to deal with situations that may arise while she is alone.
She should know to not open the door if someone knocks in any situation.
alone? Before you leave your child home alone, you should She should not open the door even if the person knocking says they have an important
make sure that he feels safe and comfortable and can handle the package or even if they say they are a policeman. Instead of opening the door in
uncertain situations, she should know to call you first.
responsibility. Most children are not ready to be left alone until
they are at least 11 or 12 years old, but it will depend on your 4. Review what to do in emergency situations, such as a fire. Make sure he
knows how to call 911 and knows to get out of the house in case of a fire.
child’s maturity level. You may want to gradually let him stay
home alone for very short times to make sure he is ready. Some 5. Be clear about any chores, homework, or other things that she is supposed to do.
things to review before you leave your pre-teen or teen home 6. Have a routine established when he gets home, including locking the door and
alone include: checking in with you as soon as possible.
1. Make sure that she is comfortable staying home alone. 7. Teen-proof the home. Remove guns and lock away alcohol or medicines.
2. He should know his full name, address and phone number. He should also 8. Be clear about the rules, such as not leaving games on the floor.
know how to reach you at work.
September 5, 2007 Special Advertising Supplement Page 4
College Planning Checklist
By: Kristen Merica-Clay, M.Ed., Cincinnati Scholarship Foundation, High School Scholarship Program
Planning for college should begin during a student’s ninth grade year and continue throughout high
school. The following checklist will help high school students plan for college.
Freshmen and Sophomores Seniors
• Get to know your high school guidance counselor September
• Develop good study skills • Discuss your course load, college plans, and test scores with your school counselor
• Explore different careers • Request college applications
• Evaluate your skills and interests and learn how they relate to careers • Arrange college visits
• Take college preparatory courses • Register to take the SAT/ACT, if necessary
• Participate in extracurricular activities • Search for scholarships
• Learn about the college planning process
October
Juniors • Verify your transcripts are accurate
zed
gani p
• Find out which financial aid applications are required at your choice colleges
September
or • Ask for letters of recommendations to include with applications
Stay d on to
• Discuss college with your family members
• Work on admissions essays
• Review your courses with your counselor
an lication
• Attend college fairs and financial aid nights
• Collect college catalogs
p
of ap dlines!
• Sign up to take the PSAT
November
• Get organized — create folders to keep copies
dea
• Continue completing applications
of applications and set up a calendar to track
• “Early Decision” deadline is often November 1 or 15, pay close attention to
important dates and deadlines
deadlines
• Search for additional sources of financial aid
October–November
• Search and apply for scholarships
• Attend college fairs and financial aid nights
• Take the PSAT
December
• Search for scholarships and financial aid
• Complete school applications by December 1
• Learn about federal and private loans
• Collect family tax and financial information for financial aid
applications
December
• Review your PSAT results with your counselor
January
• Talk with friends who are in college about their
• Complete and submit your FAFSA as soon after January 1 as possible
experiences
• Fill out and submit required financial aid forms — follow directions carefully
• Make copies of all applications
January–February
• Complete scholarship applications by their deadlines
• Identify characteristics you want in a college
• Attend college fairs and financial aid nights
February–March
• Register and study for the SAT and/or ACT
• You will begin to receive admission decisions from colleges
• Continue to search for scholarships
• When you receive your Student Aid Report (SAR), review it carefully
• If you are selected for verification, provide the college with all needed documents
March
and information
• Plan campus visits
• Pay attention to deadlines concerning financial aid and college decisions
• Narrow the list of colleges you are considering
• Estimate how much each college will cost
April
• Discuss the colleges you are considering with
• Analyze and compare financial aid award letters
family
• Make a decision — most colleges request a reply by May 1 – and send
your tuition deposit
April–May
• Notify other colleges that you will not be attending
• Compare college requirements to your
• Mark your calendar with deadlines for housing, meal plans, financial aid, etc.
transcripts
• Select senior year courses
May–June
• Take the SAT and/or ACT
• Send final transcripts
• Take Advanced Placement tests, if necessary
• Return all necessary forms
• Get a summer job
• Enjoy your graduation
Summer
Summer
• Improve reading and vocabulary skills
• Attend orientation
• Search for scholarships and ways to pay
• Purchase college supplies
for college
• If you still need money for college, research additional sources of funding, such as
• Start working on college application essays
private loans
• Talk to people in careers you find interesting
• Finalize your budget
• Decide who you will ask to write letters of
• Send thank you notes to the people who wrote letters of recommendation
recommendation
• If you have questions, contact the admissions professionals at the college of
your choice
• For more information about college planning talk to your counselor or visit
www.collegeanswer.com
25 Ways to help your
child’s school Helping your Child
1. Share information with a student or class about one of your hobbies or
interests.
with Tests
2. Share information with a student or a class about your career. You can help your child do his or her best on tests by doing the
3. Share information with students about a country you visited or in following:
which you lived.
4. Tutor a student or a small group of students in reading, math, or Make sure your child attends school every day so he can learn what is
science. needed to do well in school — and to do well on tests.
5. Help coach an athletic team.
6. Help coach an academic team. Take an interest in your child’s school work and in the results of the
7. Help check a student’s written work. tests she takes in school.
8. Help paint a display or poster or help put together a bulletin board.
9. Help build something (shelves in a classroom or new piece of Provide a quiet place at home for your child to do homework assign-
playground equipment). ments that reinforce what she is learning at school.
10. Help answer the phone.
11. Demonstrate cooking from a particular country or culture. Work with your child at home as well as with his school and teacher to
12. Share your particular expertise with faculty (such as use of help him become a good reader. Good reading skills are important to
computers). success in school and to doing well on tests.
13. Set up an internship or apprenticeship for a student at your business,
organization, or agency. If your child’s reading skills are lagging, or if she has limited interest in
14. Host a one-day ‘shadow study’ for one student or a small group of reading, talk to your child’s teacher about ways to build reading skills
students to follow you and learn about your career. and increase interest in reading.
15. Help chaperone a field trip.
16. Serve as an officer on the PTA. Ask your child’s teacher about the tests your child takes — classroom
17. Help design a parent or student survey for the school. quizzes and tests as well as required achievement tests. Ask about the
18. Help conduct and or tabulate results of a survey about the school. subjects, knowledge and skills that are tested — and how the test
19. Volunteer to be part of a ‘telephone tree’ to distribute information results will be used to help your child be successful.
quickly.
20. Go to a school board meeting. Don’t judge your child’s abilities — or let others judge your child’s
21. Go to a PTA meeting. abilities — on the basis of his score on a single test. Any test provides
limited information about what your child knows and is able to do. For more information about GEARUP
22. Help design a brochure or flier about the school.
23. Help translate at a parent-teacher conference for people who don’t or to volunteer, contact:
Always encourage your child to do his best on tests.
speak English well. Steffi Cappel, EdD
24. Weed or plant flowers around the school entrance. 513-556-3611
25. Ask your child’s school how you can help. steffi.cappel@uc.edu
